Best Dam Barbecue in Boulder City: A Memorial Day BBQ Festival Day Trip from Las Vegas
Boulder City is a short drive from Las Vegas, and on Memorial Day weekend it smells like a smokehouse. On Saturday, May 23, 2026, we spent the early afternoon at the Best Dam Barbecue, the Rotary Club of Boulder City's yearly barbecue festival in Bicentennial Park. It was a bright, clear day, the street was lined with food trailers and canopies, and competition smokers were parked between orange traffic cones.
The event has been running for about 20 years and is the Rotary club's main fundraiser. Admission is free. You pay for what you eat and drink, and the money goes back into local programs like scholarships and school grants.
- Event
- Best Dam Barbecue (Best Dam Barbecue Challenge)
- Where
- Bicentennial Park, 999 Colorado St., Boulder City, NV 89005
- Next date
- Memorial Day weekend, May 29 to 30, 2027, per the Rotary club
- 2026 hours
- Sat 9am to 9pm, Sun 9am to 5pm (check the 2027 schedule when it is posted)
- Admission
- Free
- Organizer
- Rotary Club of Boulder City
- Our visit
- Saturday early afternoon, May 23, 2026
What we saw
The best part of a barbecue competition is that the equipment is on display. Teams park their rigs right on the street, so walking around feels like a car show for smokers.
- A gray competition smoker on its own wheels, with a tall chrome smokestack and a lid painted with a chicken, a cow and a pig. The lettering said Albuquerque NM, a reminder that teams travel in from other states.
- The Rollin Smoke Barbeque trailer, painted with flames and a grinning red devil. Rollin Smoke was listed as the presenting name for the 2026 event.
- A row of other food trailers and canopies, including an acai truck, which is a welcome break from smoked meat on a hot day.
- Barbecue served the classic way, in red and white checkered paper boats.
How the festival works
The weekend has two sides. On Sunday, dozens of teams compete in a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned contest for chicken, pork ribs, pork and brisket, with cash prizes on the line. Health rules mean competition teams cannot hand out samples of their entries, so most of what visitors eat comes from the festival food vendors and teams that sign up to vend.
In 2026 the festival added a People's Choice sampling on Saturday from 11am to 3pm. A $20 ticket pack bought five samples, either ribs or chicken drums from competition teams, plus a token to vote for your favorite. Big Johns BBQ took Grand Champion in the 2026 competition, with Uncle Jesse's BBQ as Reserve Grand Champion.
Why it works for families
- Free entry, so you can wander, look at the smokers and only buy what you want.
- A shady park with mature trees and grass, which matters on a late May afternoon in Nevada.
- Extras in 2026 included a car show, a bike show, live music, a frozen T-shirt contest and a Kids Que grill-off for young cooks.
- It is a short drive from Las Vegas and close to Hoover Dam, so it fits into a bigger day out.
What we loved
- Free admission and a fundraiser for local causes.
- Competition smokers parked right on the street to look at.
- A wide mix of food trailers, not only barbecue.
- A tree-lined park setting close to Las Vegas.
What we would change
- Sunday is the big competition day, but the People's Choice sampling was on Saturday, so you have to pick your day.
Tips for 2027
- Save the date: Memorial Day weekend, May 29 to 30, 2027.
- If the People's Choice sampling returns, go early. Ticket packs were expected to sell out in 2026.
- Bring sunscreen, water and hats. Much of the festival is on pavement in full sun.
- Check the Rotary Club of Boulder City website for the 2027 schedule and map before you go.
Our verdict
The Best Dam Barbecue is an easy, free Memorial Day outing from Las Vegas. Come hungry, walk the smoker row and stay for the music.
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