Memphis In May International Festival

What Memphis In May International Festival does

Memphis In May International Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee, that produces two signature annual events: the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC), held since 1978 at Liberty Park, and the Great American River Run, held since 2015 along the Mississippi River on Memorial Day Weekend. The WCBCC is a four-day competition recognized by USA Today as the 'Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest' in the world, featuring 200+ teams from 27 states and 7 countries competing across pork categories (Ribs, Shoulder, Whole Hog, Patio Porkers) and ancillary contests for over $190,000 in prize money. In 2026, the organization is expanding with the inaugural Open Fire World Championship, featuring 15 international live-fire teams curated by Argentine-born chef Al Frugoni.

The company's revenue model is event-driven and multi-streamed. Tickets for WCBCC range from $12 single-day passes to $595 VIP experiences, plus tiered combo tickets (BBQ Alley, Open Fire, Tour of Champions). The Great American River Run offers 5K ($60), 10K ($65), and half-marathon ($95) races. Corporate sponsorships form a major revenue pillar: presenting sponsors include Home Depot, Kingsford, Cattlemen's BBQ Sauce (McCormick), and Memphis Tourism, with supporting sponsors spanning Sam's Club, Budweiser, Weber, and dozens of other brands. Additional revenue comes from vendor fees (merchandise, craft, concessions), competition team applications, and increasingly from grants (e.g., the City of Memphis Safer Communities Grant through JONSE).

Operations are volunteer-intensive across 14+ committees (Communications, Production, Volunteer Services, Logistics, Transportation, Hospitality, Recycling Program, WCBCC Administration, etc.), with only 11-50 paid employees. The organization is led by President & CEO Mack Weaver, with Executive VP Kevin Grothe, VP Operations Floyd Benson, Finance Director Nobie McFarland, and Director of Marketing & Communications Tiffani Perry, governed by a 17-member Board of Directors (2025 Chair: Howard Robertson). The organization reports no parent company, no external investors, and no public listing, consistent with its non-profit status.

Name

Memphis In May International Festival

Legal name

Memphis In May International Festival

Website

https://memphisinmay.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Memphis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit festival operator running the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (since 1978) and Great American River Run (since 2015), serving competition teams, runners, food enthusiasts, corporate sponsors, and international cultural partners through ticketed events, sponsorships, vendor fees, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Festival and Event Management

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led) (MPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling) (MPAKADAD), Food Festivals & Culinary Events (Ticketed Tastings, Pop-ups) (THAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Cultural festival management
• Barbecue competition events
• Running race organization
• Corporate event sponsorship
• Community event programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: The organization generates revenue through ticket sales for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (May 13-16, 2026) and Great American River Run (May 23, 2026). Various ticket tiers including single day tickets, 4-day passes, VIP experiences, and combo tickets for food experiences like BBQ Alley, Open Fire, and Tour of Champions.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Major presenting sponsors include Home Depot, Kingsford, Cattlemen's BBQ Sauce, and Memphis Tourism. Supporting sponsors span numerous brands across food, beverage, retail, and service categories including Sam's Club, Budweiser, McCormick, Weber, and many others. Sponsors receive branding, activation, and experiential marketing opportunities at the festival.
3. Vendor Fees: Merchandise, craft vendors, and concessions vendors pay fees to participate in the festival. Selection criteria include quality of offerings, experience, ability to serve thousands of patrons, appearance, unique cuisine, and reasonable prices.
4. Competition Team Applications: Teams apply to compete in the WCBCC (World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest), Junior BBQ Contest, and the new Open Fire World Championship. Application fees and team space fees contribute to revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Memphis In May International Festival is a nonprofit organization that produces two major annual events in Memphis, Tennessee: the four-day World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC) at Liberty Park and the Memorial Day weekend Great American River Run (5K, 10K, half-marathon) in Downtown Memphis. The organization sells tiered ticket experiences to the public (single-day passes, 4-day passes, VIPit, BBQ Alley, Open Fire, Tour of Champions), charges application and team fees to barbecue competition entrants, and operates paid training programs such as the Judge's Seminar for aspiring certified judges.

Product overview

Memphis In May International Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes two major annual events: the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC) held May 13-16, 2026 at Liberty Park, and the Great American River Run held Memorial Day Weekend (May 23, 2026) in Downtown Memphis. The WCBCC is the organization's flagship product—recognized by USA Today as the 'Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest'—featuring over 200 teams competing for over $190,000 in prize money. In 2026, the festival introduces the inaugural Open Fire World Championship featuring 15 elite live fire cooking teams curated by Al Frugoni. The festival offers multiple ticketed experience add-ons including VIPit Experience, Kingsford Tour of Champions, BBQ Alley, and Open Fire Experience, along with entertainment programming on the Cattlemen's Main Stage. The Great American River Run provides 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races with over 2,000 participants. The organization also operates a youth program (Junior World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest), a Judge's Seminar certification program, and vendor programs including the Barbecue Marketplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC) The flagship annual barbecue cooking competition held at Liberty Park in Memphis, TN, recognized by USA Today as the 'Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest.' Features over 200 teams competing for over $190,000 in prize money across pork categories (Ribs, Shoulder, Whole Hog, Patio Porkers) and ancillary competitions (Hot Wings, Sauce, Anything But Pork). Open to competition teams as participants and to general public attendees via ticket purchase.
• Great American River Run A running event featuring 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races held on Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 23, 2026) in Downtown Memphis along the Mississippi River. The 11th anniversary event includes cash prizes, scenic views, and a post-race party with local music and food.
• Open Fire World Championship The inaugural open-flame cooking competition debuting at the 2026 WCBCC, featuring 15 elite live fire cooking teams from around the world curated by Argentine-born chef Al Frugoni. Competitors prepare beef, pork, chicken, lamb, alligator, octopus, and more using open fire techniques inspired by traditions from Argentina to Asia.
• Junior World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest Youth-focused barbecue competition program for individuals ages 9-17, providing mentorship, workforce skill-building, and positive engagement opportunities. Teams may include up to 3 individuals, with cash prizes and the Grand Champion receiving a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championship.
• Judge's Seminar A training and certification program ($135) teaching participants the Memphis In May judging rules, scoring process, and official WCBCC meat categories. Successful completion certifies individuals to judge at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and other sanctioned events.
• VIPit Experience An exclusive premium package priced at $595 offering unmatched access to championship barbecue, providing fans with behind-the-scenes experiences, exclusive flavors, and insider moments not available to general ticket holders.
• Kingsford Tour of Champions An exclusive tasting experience ($44 combo ticket) where guests sample mouthwatering entries from top teams at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and help crown a People's Choice Champion by casting their vote.
• BBQ Alley A backyard-style barbecue party experience featuring DJ Mad EFX, offering festivalgoers a tasting experience with live music and food. Combo tickets: $20 Wednesday, $39 Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
• Open Fire Experience A tasting experience ($44 combo ticket) allowing attendees to sample foods prepared at multiple blazing open fire stations and witness the sizzling spectacle of the Open Fire World Championship, featuring beef, pork, chicken, lamb, alligator, octopus, and more.
• Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen An interactive outdoor cooking playground featuring live food demonstrations using the latest outdoor cooking gear, grilling tips, and samples. Complimentary with any ticket inside the 2026 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
• Flava Faceoff A three-day cooking competition presented by Sam's Club where chefs and mixologists compete to create the best bite and sip, featuring competitions on Thursday and Friday evenings on the Cattlemen's Main Stage.
• Great American River Run Expo A pre-race expo where brands and businesses can engage with thousands of racers before the Great American River Run, including gear check and race packet pickup.
• Parade of Champions & Opening Ceremony A high-energy kickoff event on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 5:15 PM featuring the Parade of Champions led by the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Lighting of the Grill ceremony.
• Barbecue Marketplace A marketplace booth opportunity for WCBCC teams and pitmasters to showcase and sell their sauces and rubs directly to festival attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• $149 million economic impact to Memphis (2019)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered presenting sponsor, core partner, major sponsor, appearance sponsor, partner, international partner, grant funder and expo sponsor.

• Home Depotpresenting sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerHome Depot serves as a presenting sponsor with the Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen activation. This interactive experience features live food demonstrations, grilling tips, and outdoor cooking product showcases. Included complimentary with any ticket.
• Kingsfordpresenting sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerKingsford presents the Tour of Champions experience, giving fans exclusive chances to sample award-winning BBQ entries from top teams and help crown a People's Choice Champion.
• Cattlemen's BBQ Sauce (McCormick)presenting sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerCattlemen's BBQ Sauce sponsors the main stage entertainment at Liberty Park, featuring musical performances and live events throughout the four-day festival.
• Memphis Tourismpresenting sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerMemphis Tourism promotes the festival as a key cultural event attracting visitors to Memphis, contributing to local tourism and economic impact.
• Al Frugonicore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally acclaimed Argentine-born chef and live-fire specialist Al Frugoni curates and headlines the inaugural Open Fire World Championship, bringing global open-fire cooking expertise and international teams to the competition.
• Sam's Clubmajor sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSam's Club presents the Flava Faceoff competition, a cooking competition for chefs and mixologists competing to create the best bite and sip during the festival.
• Patriot Tacticalappearance sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPatriot Tactical is the appearance sponsor for Bill Goldberg's special appearance at the 2026 WCBCC, hosting photo/autograph opportunities at their booth.
• Greater Memphis Chamber of Commercecore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Memphis in May on cultural programming including the 2026 Ireland celebration, business opportunities, and government partnerships.
• MSH (My Spiced Honey/MSH Seasonings)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Casey Webb (Food Network star) to create signature spice lines including 'Flavor Reserve' featured at the festival.
• Hongseong Global BBQ Festival (South Korea)international partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration following Memphis in May's participation in the Hongseong Global BBQ Festival with nearly 600,000 attendees. CEO Mack Weaver led strategic discussions with global festival leaders.
• City of Memphis Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (JONSE)grant funderStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered the Safer Communities Grant to Memphis in May as part of the city's $600,000 investment supporting community-based violence prevention and neighborhood stability programs.
• Renasantexpo sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenasant sponsors the Great American River Run Expo at the Renasant Convention Center, featuring gear check and race packet pickup.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Toronto's Festival of Beer: Major Canadian food-and-beverage festival held annually in Toronto. Comparable food/beverage festival economics and ticketing tiers, but operates in a distinct geography with a different regulatory and sponsor environment.

Broad incumbents

• SXSW: Austin-based multi-format cultural festival spanning music, film, food, and technology. Broadly comparable as a multi-vertical community festival model with strong sponsor monetization, though operated at a much larger scale and for-profit.
• National Western Stock Show: Denver-based 501(c)(3) community agricultural event with food, livestock, and rodeo programming. Operates in the same nonprofit community-festival category with similar volunteer/sponsor ecosystem but a much broader livestock-and-Western orientation.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: Massive annual community event combining livestock/agriculture, rodeo, concerts, and major food programming. Comparable in scale and nonprofit structure but broader in scope; serves as a benchmark for what Memphis In May could scale to in economic impact.

Direct peers

• Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue: Long-running invitation-only BBQ competition held annually in Lynchburg, TN. Same competitive BBQ category with similar prize-pool and team-driven structure; positions as the most direct BBQ-specific competitor at the high end.
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: Community-rooted multi-day cultural festival founded in 1970 with strong food, music, and cultural programming. Structurally comparable to Memphis In May as a nonprofit cultural festival with food as a core pillar and international country honoring.
• Big Apple Barbecue Block Party: Annual BBQ festival held in Madison Square Park, New York. Directly comparable as a destination barbecue festival with competition teams, sponsor activation, and ticketed tastings, though smaller in scale than WCBCC.
• Taste of Chicago: Large-scale outdoor food festival in Grant Park. Comparable as a ticketed culinary community festival with vendor/pop-up food model, though lacks the competition/cultural programming of Memphis In May.
• Kentucky Derby Festival: Louisville-based multi-event community festival running dozens of events over several weeks each spring. Closely mirrors Memphis In May's structure: nonprofit umbrella, multi-event spring programming, mass participation races (mini/derby marathon), and sponsor-driven activation model.
• American Royal: Kansas City-based nonprofit that operates the World Series of Barbecue, the largest BBQ competition in the region, and a parallel livestock show and rodeo. Directly comparable as a 501(c)(3)-style community BBQ competition organizer with similar sponsor- and team-driven economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/memphisinmay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDlbwcWT5q5v2FPwiBRyUPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/memphisinmay
• Instagraminstagram.com/memphisinmay
• TikToktiktok.com/tag/memphisinmay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Memphis In May International Festival