Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off: Everything you need to know
Terell Wilkins
After missing last year due to COVID-19, the Nugget Casino Resort is hosting the 32nd annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off at Victorian Square in Sparks.
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 6, 22 rib cookers from 14 states are set to compete in one of the most prestigious rib festivals in the country.
Four new rib cookers are joining this year's competition, including local favorite Brothers BBQ from Reno and Big Daddy's Sin City BBQ from Henderson.
Several of the rib cookers are returning winners, with Joey's Texas Thunder — champions in 1992 and 1997 — remaining a yearly participant since the inaugural festival in 1989.
Other returning champions are 2018 and 2019 grand champion Montana Q Bar-B-Que and Back Forty Texas barbecue, which has participated in every Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off since 1991 and won best sauce in 2018 and 2019.
"It really is a prestigious event," Nugget spokesman Randy Kennedy said. "You ask any of the rib cookers and they'll say that as far as high volume rib cooking, this is the biggest, best event that they all look forward to every year."
Winners will be determined at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, with $19,500 in prize money.
Amenities and safety precautions
Amenities for patrons include a beer garden and Rib Village, which features an all-you-can-eat rib buffet from the rib cookers and a private shaded seating area adjacent to the Main Stage concert venue. Tickets are $105 and are nearly sold out.
Kennedy said that though there are concerns about COVID-19 and smoke from California wildfires, turnout for this year's festival should be good based on ticket sales.
"The response we've seen so far has been overwhelmingly positive," he said. "The Rib Village ... sold out very quickly and if you go by that, I think we're looking at a good festival."
Kennedy said there will be enhanced cleaning protocols within the Rib Village along with extra hand sanitizer, gloves and masks available.
"This is an outdoor event, so they're not mandated (to wear masks) at this point, but we understand people want to feel safe so we're trying to accommodate that to have a happy event," he said.
Live entertainment
The festival will also feature live entertainment from 7-9 p.m. on the main stage each day:
- Sept. 1: Devin Dawson
- Sept. 2: Noah Guthrie
- Sept. 3: 10,000 Maniacs
- Sept. 4: Eddie Montgomery
- Sept. 5: Uncle Kracker
- Sept. 6: Everlast (2-4:30 p.m.)
Inside the Nugget Events Center, a kids area features bounce houses and a dunk tank.
A two-day cornhole tournament will be held in the parking lot west of Dotty's Casino over the weekend. Participants must bring their own partner and bags. Cost to play is $60 per team with a 70% cash payout for the competitive division and a 70% prize payout for the social division. Pre-register at calcornhole.com or register as a walk-up as space permits.
Parking and street closures
The following areas will be closed from 12:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 until 6 a.m. Wednesday:
- Victorian Avenue, from 14th Street to Pyramid Highway.
- Victorian Plaza Circle - East (11th Street) from C Street to Nugget Ave.
- Avenue of the Oaks will be closed in front of the Galaxy theater for one block east and one block west.
- Alley on the west side of the Bridges apartment building.
- 10th Street from south of the alley to Victorian Avenue.
- 9th Street north of the alley
- Sparks Heritage Museum parking lot is closed to the public, space available for museum volunteers and patrons only.
Public parking is available in the Nugget West Parking Lot and the City Parking Garage next to the Galaxy movie theater.
As parking fills up quickly each day, All-West Coachlines and RTC Ride will be providing a free shuttle service from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 6.
There will be round-trip shuttles from the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center at 1350 N. Wells Avenue in Reno and the Greenbrae Shopping Center/Sparks Christian Fellowship at 510 Greenbrae Drive in Sparks.
The drop-off and pick-up location for ride-share passengers will be on 13th Street between Avenue of The Oaks and Victorian Plaza Circle.
"A lot of people don't see the logistics of what goes into putting this on because it is a massive effort," Kennedy said. "Generally though, everybody on the street goes home pretty happy and we want to keep that going."
Follow reporter Terell Wilkins on Twitter, @terelljwilkins, call him at 252-367-8463 or email him at twilkins@rgj.com.