2024 Ultimate Bologna Showdown; presented by Dead End BBQ and Elm Hill Bologna

Location: Knoxville, TN
Date: 05-18-2024

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Sizzle, Slice, and Savory Delights Await at the Ultimate Bologna Showdown!

Prepare your taste buds for a culinary clash like no other! The 2024 Ultimate Bologna Showdown, presented by the legendary Dead End BBQ and the iconic Elm Hill Bologna, is set to be the most sizzling event of the year. This meat-tastic competition will bring together the best bologna connoisseurs to battle it out in a quest to be crowned the Bologna Champion of the World!

This is your chance to etch your name in the annals of competitive eating. Are you ready to face off against the titans of the table? Can you slice, dice, and devour your way to glory? We're calling all bologna aficionados, BBQ enthusiasts, and those who dare to dream meaty dreams – step up and show the world what you've got!

Whether you're stepping into the ring or cheering on your favorite eater, the Ultimate Bologna Showdown is an event you can't miss. Bring your appetite for fun, food, and fierce competition.

$10,000 TOTAL PRIZE PURSE! 1st $5,000 2nd $2,750 3rd $1,300 4th $650 5th $300

The contest will take place at Noon EST on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, at the RecSports Field Complex 3620 Sutherland Ave Knoxville TN 37919!

About Dead End BBQ

Dead End BBQ started as one big neighborhood block party, where over 40 locals came together to enjoy a community pig roast in honor of Memorial Day 2000. At first, this exclusive celebration was a coveted experience for select neighbors, who gathered to break bread and hone their barbecue skills at the end of a dead-end street. But by the next year, it evolved into an annual gathering, serving more than 500 hungry neighbors and community members.

“Friends and neighbors were always raving about the food and saying we needed to enter BBQ competitions. So, around 2004, we started on the national competition circuit and a few years later, we became the State Champions of Tennessee. Then, in 2008, we were selected to represent the state at the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue competition. After that national recognition, we knew we had a great product and decided to go for it. We opened a custom-designed restaurant space about a year later.” - George Ewart, Co-Owner

Over the years, Dead End has evolved into more than just a place to fill up on traditional comfort food with a twist. It’s become a community staple—bringing picnic-style BBQ plating and a wide collection of Knoxville memorabilia to locals and visitors from all over the nation.

Beyond serving guests, Dead End continues to elevate its community by supporting youth programs, teaching the art of BBQ through cooking classes, and giving back to local organizations and causes (which you can learn about on the restaurant’s gallery walls). Today, Dead End’s goal is the same as it was on day one: To bring people together over great food.

About Elm Hill Bologna

Resonating with Nashville culture, like the neon glow of Lower Broadway and the sinuous sounds of steel guitars, is our Elm Hill brand of meats. Born in the Music City and beloved by meat eaters everywhere, Elm Hill has been serving delicious hot dogs, bologna, hams, and specialty meats for over 55 years. With iconic items like the Jumbo Pork and Beef Franks and the seasonal favorite, Beef Spiced Round, we look to constantly push the boundary of culinary cuisine. So whether you’re hosting a Memorial Day cookout or slicing a holiday ham at Christmas, let Elm Hill take center stage and give your mouth the encore it deserves.

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*All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure