Top BBQ Teams & Culinary Talent Announced for the 2025 Santiam Smoke Show
Sweet Home, Oregon (May 22, 2025) - The Smoke is rising and the excitement is building as the 2025 Santiam Smoke Show gears up for an unforgettable weekend of family fun, live music, and the best barbeque in the West! Taking place May 30-21 in Sweet Home, Oregon, this year’s event features an all-star lineup of award-winning BBQ teams and dynamic cooking demonstrations from some of the region’s most innovative culinary minds.
Featured Demo Chefs
Matt Kuerbis of Heat You Can Handle (HYCH)
From bold hot sauces to master-level steak cooking, Matt brings the heat without losing the flavor. Join him on:
Friday at 6:00 pm: The Sauce Lab - A hands-on hot sauce workshop, complete with a pepper eating challenge and Oregon-themed sauce sampling.
Saturday at 5:00 pm: Upping the Steaks - Learn how to build flavor-forward, competition-worthy steaks for your next cookout.
Brian Gurnery of Bad Bones BBQ
A true pitmaster, Brian is known for his low-and-slow style and competition-level execution. Don’t miss:
Saturday at 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm: Two back-to-back sessions where Brian will share techniques, stories, and secrets behind his award-winning BBQ, the first featuring BBQ ribs and the second BBQ brisket.
Leland Hammel of Eat Black Garlic & Fresh Perspectives, joined by Erika Reagor of MOB Sauce
This dynamic duo brings creative flavor combinations and black garlic magic to the Santiam Smoke Show stage:
Friday at 5:30 pm: Steak Toppers; Elevate Your Plate - Discover rich, umami-packed sauces that transform any cut of meat.
Saturday at 3:00 pm: Umami Bomb Workshop - Unlock the power of black garlic and learn how to build layers of unforgettable flavor.
COMPETITION BBQ TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Get ready to experience over 25 of the best BBQ teams in the country as they compete for the largest cash prize paid out on the West Coast. Teams will go head-to-head in a variety of categories, from brisket to ribs to pork, showcasing the ultimate in pitmaster skill and passion. A full list of participating teams can be found on the website.
TICKETS & DETAILS
The Santiam Smoke Show kicks off Friday, May 30, with 21 and over night featuring BBQ, beer, and live music. Saturday, May 31, is Family Day, with cooking demos, kids’ activities, fireworks, and more.
Tickets start at just $22 and are available at www.SweetEventsOregon.com/cookoff.
About the Santiam Smoke Show
The Santiam Smoke Show is the merger of two former Sweet Events Music & Brews and the Icebox Cookoff, it combines the best of both events with live music, brews, and BBQ. Sweet Events is the event production arm of the Sweet Home Economic Development Group.