Sample the BBQ on Washington Island

Death’s Door BBQ organizers have announced that 36 professional barbeque teams will compete in the fourth annual Death’s Door BBQ on Aug. 29 on the grounds of the Washington Island Airport.

The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) and will pay out $7,500 in prize money to winning contestants. Six states are represented in this year’s contest, with the furthest coming from Florida.

One of this year’s contestants, Smokers Purgatory from Iowa, has competed on both the nationally broadcast BBQ Pitmasters and at the Kingsford Charcoal Challenge. Another team, Tim’s Full Belly Deli of Oshkosh, is ranked eighth in the U.S. according to the 2015 Sam’s Club/KCBS Team of the Year standings. Two of Death’s Door BBQ’s past Grand Champions, T-Mac Smokin’ and Fox River BBQ, both from Appleton, are entered in this year’s event.

The awards ceremony will take place at 4:30 pm after the winner of the Death’s Door BBQ raffle is announced. The event features free parking, and the Washington Island Ferry Line will operate the BBQ Train, which picks up passengers at the Island Dock and then transports visitors to the BBQ event and back again. The trains run from 10 am until 5 pm and are free of charge.

There will be live entertainment throughout the day, featuring the Alex Wilson Band from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. Starting off the day, from 10 am to 12 pm, is Tom Pratt and Friends. Children’s games start at 11:30 am. The event runs from 10 am until 5 pm and is free to the public. More information can be found at deathsdoorbbq.com.