HOUSTON — We sure hope you didn't give up meat for Lent because it's time to chow down on some of the best barbecue around at the Rodeo cook-off!
More than 250 cook teams from Texas and around the world will fire up their pits to compete in the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest at NRG Park. The categories include best brisket, chicken, ribs and Dutch oven dessert.
Editor's note: The above video originally aired in 2023.
Here's what you need to know.
When is the Rodeo barbecue cook-off?
- Thursday, Feb. 22: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 23: Noon - 11 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 24 - 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
How much are barbecue cook-off tickets?
- Adults 13 and over - $25
- Children 3 to 12 - $10
- Children 2 and under: Free
The tickets include a plate of sliced brisket with beans and chips from the Chuckwagon; concerts at The Garden Stage; live music at the Saloon; and admission to the Carnival. (Rides, games and food are separate)
The tickets don't include admission to the private tents.
Houston Rodeo season pass
If you plan to go to the cookoff and/or the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo more than once, a season pass is another option to consider. Here's what the $55 grounds season passes include.
- Daily admission to the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest
- Daily admission during HLSR to all public activities at NRG Park, NRG Center and NRG Arena.
- Admission to the Carnival (Rides, games and food are separate)
The season passes don't include admission to the Rodeo and concerts at NRG Stadium.
Garden Stage entertainment lineup
The Garden Stage will feature live country music that you can boot, scoot and boogie to.
Thursday
- 7:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.: Trent Cowie
- 9:15 - 10:45 p.m.: Dylan Wheeler
Friday
- 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Kylie Frey
- 7:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.: Silverada
- 9:15 p.m. - 10:45 p.m.: William Beckmann
Saturday
- Noon - 1:30 p.m.: Susan Hickman
- 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Chad Cooke Band
- 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Jon Wolfe
- 7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.: The Great Divide
- 9:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.: Wade Brown
Where to park for BBQ cook-off
ADA Parking
A limited number of ADA parking spaces, including van-accessible parking, are available in the NRG Park Teal and Yellow lots for $25 per car. These spaces are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability. A valid state-issued handicap placard or vehicle registration is required. Once ADA parking is full, ADA customers will be redirected to the nearest ADA-accessible or general parking lot.
NRG Park Teal Lot
Location: Entrance is Gate 14 off Murworth
Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. to close
Price: $25 per car
NRG Park Yellow Lot
Location: The primary route to the Yellow Lot is 610 to Main St., enter Gate 16 off Main St.
Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. to close
Price: $25 per car
General Public Parking
Parking will be available in the NRG Park Yellow Lot and the 610 Lot for $25 per car. Additional parking will be available at offsite shuttle locations.
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
Rideshare drop-offs and pick-ups are in the NRG Park Yellow Lot. Enter Gate 16B off Main St. The northbound lanes of Main Street are the only access to the lot. There is no left turn lane access allowed from the southbound lanes of Main Street.
Park and Ride
Let someone else do the driving with METRO Park and Ride. Here are the locations and parking cost, if applicable.
OST 1: 2103 South Braeswood; no charge to ride bus; $25 per car to park (Operated by Rodeo)
Reed Road: 2400 Reed Road off Highway 288; no charge to ride bus; $25 per car to park (Operated by Rodeo)
West Loop: 4675 S. Braeswood; $7 round trip for ages 4 and older; no charge to park (Operated by Rodeo)
Monroe: 8833 1/2 Gulf Freeway/I-45; $7 round trip for ages 4 and older; no charge to park (Operated by Rodeo)
Maxey: 515 Maxey Road; $4 round trip; no charge to park (Operated by METRO)
Fannin South: 1604 West Bellfort; Free METRORail passes; $20 to park (Operated by METRO)
Woodlands Express: 701 Westridge Road in Spring (Reservation required)
Ride METRORail to the Barbecue cookoff
There are three METRORail light rail lines.
- The Red Line runs along Main Street through downtown Houston, and then into the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center
- The Green Line runs through downtown Houston and along Harrisburg Blvd. into EaDo (east downtown) and the Second Ward
- The Purple Line runs through downtown and the Third Ward (southeast of downtown)
The Rodeo exit is at the Stadium Park / Astrodome station along the southern end of the Red Line.
If you're coming from areas along the Green or Purple Lines, you can transfer to the Red Line in downtown Houston and ride it southbound to the Stadium Park / Astrodome station. You'll be on the train for 13 stops and the ride will take about 30 minutes.