More than 100 of the world's top-ranked professional grilling teams will gather at the Orleans Hotel & Casino to compete for a piece of the largest barbecue purse totaling $125,000 in prizes at The Orleans USA Barbecue Championships and food festival. 

Scheduled to run on May 21st and 22nd, the Orleans USA Barbecue Championship is one of many festivals produced by Smoke on the Water Productions. The event has attracted more than 45,000 event-goers and over 300 professional and amateur teams every year.

This year, professional teams representing 43 states, including six teams from Canada and one from Tokyo will compete in four categories: Brisket, Chicken, Ribs and Pork Butt. Las Vegas Valley local expert barbecue teams such as Trailhound Smoker BBQ, Sin City Smokers and The Smokin' B.A.R, will also compete for the top $25,000 prize.

"Nothing says summer like good barbecue, and nothing says Las Vegas like a high stakes competition and free live entertainment. We look forward to welcoming competitors from all over the world to The Orleans USA Barbecue Championship." said Tony Taeubel, Vice President and General Manager of The Orleans Hotel and Casino.

In addition to the cooking competition, the Orleans USA Barbecue Championships and festival will feature professional and amateur barbecue cook-offs and 40 to 50 of the world's best barbecue vendors, a barbecue expo, live music sponsored by Clear Channel and Budweiser as well as a kid play zone.

The "UNLV ‘Ribba Ramma' Amateur Rib Cook-Off" will also be held on the event grounds and will give attendees the chance to sample ribs from five of the amateur competitors for a $10 donation, with all donations supporting UNLV Athletics through the Rebel Athletic Fund. BBQ aficionados and Backyard grillers are invited to compete in the ‘Ribba Ramma' contest to become "Nevada's Grilling Guru" or the coveted "People's Choice Champion."

The festival is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on May 21st and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 22nd.