“You know what Tupelo needs? A BBQ Competition.”

Five years ago, an off-hand comment from a Link Centre board member kicked off a journey that this non-profit arts and social service center could never have imagined. “You know what Tupelo needs? A barbecue competition.” Who knew a comment so simple in nature would foster so much. Shortly after, talks emerged and one thing led to another and in April 2010, the inaugural Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel hosted 31 teams in the Link Centre parking lot. And for a brand new competition, it went about as well as anyone could have hoped.

In the competition’s sophomore year, the Duel moved to Fairpark, picked up 100 professional teams and hosted the crew of "BBQ Pitmasters" who filmed an episode at the festival. For the past two years, more than 10,000 people have gathered to celebrate and enjoy a southern cultural tradition at the Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel and Festival at Fairpark in Tupelo. The visitors enjoy the enticing aromas of slow cooking over wood fires, visit the professional barbecue teams with their whimsical names, listen to southern music, shop with craft vendors and of course, eat barbecue. 

Scheduled for March 14-15, the Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel and Festival exists as a fundraiser for Link Centre, which “serves as Northeast Mississippi’s premier regional and cultural service center, creating a community of shared services and experiences that transform lives by inspiring, educating, and improving their health and well being” (http://www.link-centre.org).  Money is raised at the Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel and Festival through the barbeque competition, vendors, plus food and drink sales.  The festival itself is free and open to the public. For the past two years, the festival has enjoyed visitors from throughout the region.

Still not convinced you should come out? Take it from Link Centre Executive Director, Melanie Deas, "I have been a vegetarian for 25 years now, and I LOVE to hawk barbecue now!" Two major awards testify to the success of the Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel. In 2012, the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association selected the competition as the year’s Best Special event, and in 2013, the Mississippi Main Street Association named it the Best Culinary Arts Event.  Building on these past successes, the coordinators hope to take the festival to new levels with the help of the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Schedule of Events

For more information, visit the Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel & Festival website: http://www.tupelobbqduel.com