Way Out West BBQ Championship puts
the ‘Q
in RHYTHM, BREWS and BBQ’s !
Annual Taste of San Joaquin and Way Out West BBQ Championship bring BBQ teams, local restaurants, and thousands of visitors to Downtown Stockton every year since 2008. $1 tasting of Championship BBQ and the finest faire from locally owned restaurants is available. A full line of live rock music, and activities for kids are on site. Admission is only $3 per person and kids 12 and under are free with paid adult.
Taste the finest faire from our local restaurants for only $1 as well as main stream and micro brews, local wines, and the West Coast's best BBQ. Last year, visitors had the opportunity to meet some of the best BBQ
competitors on the west coast including “Slap Yo’ Daddy” stars of the recent TLC’s “BBQ Pitmasters,”
and winner of People’s Choice two years running, Stockton’s own, “Smokin’ Yankees.”
Taste hot off the grill: pork ribs, beef brisket, chicken, pork candy, loaded baked potatoes,
and more. Many teams have sauce for sale and love to share grilling tips.
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Visitors are able to sample BBQ
hot off the grill |
Kids activities include face painting |
Many BBQ teams like to share their grilling tips |
The Way Out West BBQ Championship is sanctioned by the Pacific Northwest BBQ Association. To join as a competitor in the BBQ competition click here.
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TASTE OF SAN JOAQUIN 2011 STATISTICS
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½ mile of beer flags… 56 rolls of toilet paper…
2 bands… 309 mentions on Twitter…
229 Facebook “likes”… 2 golf carts…
65+ vendors… 85+ volunteers…
23 port-o-potties… 98 bags of ice…
500 wine glasses… 1 band aid applied…
46 tired DSA staff feet… 4 beer trailers…
3 TV appearances… 2 Way Out West Organizers 250 family packs… 45 judges… 75 rental tables…
10 speakers… 700 feet of cord… 175 sq ft of banners… 1 ton dumpster… 20 wine openers…
36 wine stoppers… and 23 radios later… |
ABOUT THE BBQ CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Slap Yo' Daddy BBQ from Diamond Bar, CA, were
the winners of WOW Contest in 2009 and 2010 |
1st Annual Way Out West BBQ Championship fired up Stockton in 2009! More than 20 talented cooks from all over the Western United States competed for a California State Championship. Downtown Stockton was filled with overwhelming aromas as the BBQ teams went to work. Cooking lasted 18 hours!
Watch a video about Way Out West BBQ on Comcast Channel
30 BBQ teams from across the country came to Taste of San Joaquin 2011 to complete in the KCBS sanctioned Way Out West BBQ Championship (WOW). Visitors had the opportunity to meet some of the best BBQ competitors on the west coast including “Slap Yo’ Daddy” stars of the recent TLC’s “BBQ Pitmasters” and 2009 People’s Choice winner, Stockton’s own, “Smokin’ Yankees.”
Click here to see Slap Yo’ Daddy's performance on TLC
TICKETS
Pre-sale discounted tickets are available and save time in line.

- Family Packs include free admission for two adults, free admission for youth 12 and under, two commemorative mugs to be filled with free non alcoholic beverage, and 30 tasting tickets.
- Boater Packs include an overnight dock reservation at the Downtown Marina, and two free adult event admission tickets.
- Downtown Packs include a Family Pack, 4 tickets to that evening’s Ports’ Baseball game with firework display, and an overnight stay at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel on either Friday or Saturday evening including parking and breakfast.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Coming soon.
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BEER AND WINE IN 2011
$1 Wine Tasting from the Gallo Winery,
Peltier Station Schatz Family and Peltier Station Hybrid:
Pinot Grigio
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Malbec
Pinot Noir |
Petite Sirah
Zinfandel
Cabernet Sauvignon
Moscato |
At Taste of San Joaquin 2011, we will be serving main stream and craft brews:

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
This event is organized by the Way Out West BBQ Championship and the Downtown Stockton Alliance. The goals of this event are to stimulate the local economy, raise money for area non profits, create a business opportunity for locally owned food service businesses, and to draw visitors to Downtown Stockton. All proceeds from Taste benefit locally owned and operated restaurants, local charities and the improvement of Downtown Stockton. For each $1 tasting ticket that is redeemed at the event, $0.70 goes to the locally owned food business and $0.30 goes to local nonprofit organizations. In the past four years, Taste has donated over $10,000 to local charities and sold over 100,000 tasting tickets.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN 2011:
Anapa Nui
ARC San Joaquin
Central Valley Karate Boosters
Child Abuse Prevention Council Stockton Auxiliary
Delta Rotary of Stockton
Family Extension Foster Care
Gospel Center Rescue Mission
Greater Christ Temple
San Joaquin Bike Coalition at Plea for Peace Center
San Joaquin Probation Department, Project 654
Soroptimist International
Stockton Collegiate International Schools
University of the Pacific Jacoby Center
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Transportation & Parking
Parking: Available on the street, in surface lots and garages. Street parking is free on weekends, lots and garages start at $10 per car. The University Plaza offers free shuttle service throughout the day between points downtown.Click here for parking and shuttle map.
Bikes: Bike and skateboard valet will be available
at the event.
Boating: Stockton Marina boating reservations can be made through Westrec at (209) 462-4200. Rates are $25 per overnight boat which includes two free admission tickets to the event or $10 per day use boat. Click here for more.
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HOTELS
The University Plaza Waterfront Hotel was the official hotel
of Taste 2011 and offering a special rate for Taste guests.
Call (209) 944-1140 for rates.
TESTIMONIALS
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Kelly Belly Clown painted faces
at the Kids Corner in 2009 |
“Even though the city of Stockton cancelled our annual fireworks show due to the current budget crisis, there was still reason to be down at the waterfront on Independence Day. The second annual Taste of San Joaquin was held along with the first annual Way Out West BBQ Championship was held at the Weber Points Event Center on a perfect July day.
As soon as we paid our $1 admissions we could hear an '80s rock band playing on the main stage. We made our way back and hung out and watched Aquanett perform songs from Ratt, Metallica, Poison, AC/DC and other rock bands. (...)
After listening to Aquanett for a while we ventured out to try some of the BBQ prepared by the 20 or so competitors. (...) After a few samples of BBQ we tried some specialties from local restaurants (...).”
— Matt Beckwith, Podcast Stockton (2009)
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2011 SPONSORS
Click here for sponsorship opportunities.
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