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WhistleStop BBQ Festival 2025

WhistleStop BBQ Festival Dessert Competition
When: Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Turn-in tent onsite at the WhistleStop BBQ Festival in MidCity
Entry Fee: $25 per person. Purchase includes entry ticket. 

Awards & Prizes:
1st Place: $250
2nd Place: $150
3rd Place: $100

Contest Rules:
- Dessert entries must be homemade and cannot be store-bought.
-You must prepare enough of your dessert for at least six judges. You do not need to cut the dessert into individual servings. Pies, cakes, etc., may be presented whole.
- The use of garnishes is permitted, but avoid anything that could identify you as the source of the entry.
- You are not required to use a specific container for your entry. However, we are not responsible for returning any dishes, trays, bowls, or other presentation items.
- Be sure to securely attach your entry number to the top of your container, not the bottom. We are not responsible if the number falls off.
- The container for your dessert cannot be larger than what one person can easily carry.

Friday Single Day (Oct. 17th) Advance Price: $15
    * Includes People's Choice WINGS tasting (6 PM - 7:30 PM, while supplies last). Vote for your favorite!
Saturday Single Day (Oct. 18th) Advance Price: $15
    * Includes People's Choice PULLED PORK tasting (2 PM - 4 PM, while supplies last). Vote for your favorite!
Weekend Pass (Oct. 17th & 18th) Advance Price: $25
    * Includes both People's Choice tastings (Wings Fri 6 PM - 7:30 PM; Pulled Pork Sat 2 PM - 4 PM, while supplies last).

Prices increase at the gates: $20 single day pass and $35 weekend pass.

Children 12 and under: FREE
Parking: FREE

All tickets include access to:
The MainStage: Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy live music from local and regional acts.

People’s Choice Tastings: Your chance to sample and judge BBQ from the Shadetree Barbeque Teams!
    * WINGS: Friday, 6 PM - 7:30 PM
    * PULLED PORK: Saturday, 2 PM - 4 PM
(Tastings are while supplies last. Vote via QR codes at team sites or donate with cash/check to support our initiatives and help your favorite team win!)
Food Vendor Alley: A delicious variety of food options for every taste.
The Window World Picnic Zone: Hang out with friends, grab food from the Alley, and watch the big games! Bring your lawn chairs.
The Pigpen: Inflatable bounce houses, STEM activities and more to entertain our youngest WhistleStop guests.

A beloved North Alabama tradition since 2001, this year marks the third time WhistleStop comes to the vibrant MidCity District! 
Now presented by the Apollo Coalition, this year's festival features a new contest, fantastic music, and more! 
The Apollo Coalition (a 501c3 organization) builds community through arts and innovation. 
Our mission is to empower people to collaborate and create through entrepreneurship, special events, and educational programs.
Questions? Want to get involved? Email joanna@apollocoalition.org.

Friday Single Day (Oct. 17th) Advance Price: $15
    * Includes People's Choice WINGS tasting (6 PM - 7:30 PM, while supplies last). Vote for your favorite!
Saturday Single Day (Oct. 18th) Advance Price: $15
    * Includes People's Choice PULLED PORK tasting (2 PM - 4 PM, while supplies last). Vote for your favorite!
Weekend Pass (Oct. 17th & 18th) Advance Price: $25
    * Includes both People's Choice tastings (Wings Fri 6 PM - 7:30 PM; Pulled Pork Sat 2 PM - 4 PM, while supplies last).

Prices increase at the gates: $20 single day pass and $35 weekend pass.

Children 12 and under: FREE
Parking: FREE

All tickets include access to:
The MainStage: Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy live music from local and regional acts.

People’s Choice Tastings: Your chance to sample and judge BBQ from the Shadetree Barbeque Teams!
    * WINGS: Friday, 6 PM - 7:30 PM
    * PULLED PORK: Saturday, 2 PM - 4 PM
(Tastings are while supplies last. Vote via QR codes at team sites or donate with cash/check to support our initiatives and help your favorite team win!)
Food Vendor Alley: A delicious variety of food options for every taste.
The Window World Picnic Zone: Hang out with friends, grab food from the Alley, and watch the big games! Bring your lawn chairs.
The Pigpen: Inflatable bounce houses, STEM activities and more to entertain our youngest WhistleStop guests.

A beloved North Alabama tradition since 2001, this year marks the third time WhistleStop comes to the vibrant MidCity District! 
Now presented by the Apollo Coalition, this year's festival features a new contest, fantastic music, and more! 
The Apollo Coalition (a 501c3 organization) builds community through arts and innovation. 
Our mission is to empower people to collaborate and create through entrepreneurship, special events, and educational programs.
Questions? Want to get involved? Email joanna@apollocoalition.org.