10/03/2026
All we can say is… WOW. BBQ Cook-Off 2026 FAR exceeded any expectations we had going into this year.
For those who would like a little more information on the… meat… of this experience, the BBQ Cook-Off is just one of the many, MANY events and activities that our Public Safety Department organizes throughout the year thanks to the generous funding received through the FY23 Massachusetts Strong Communities Initiative Grant.
This four-year grant, at its core, focuses on youth violence prevention by creating positive opportunities for youth engagement, strengthening community relationships, and building meaningful connections between our residents and public safety personnel.
But what does that actually look like? It looks like THIS.
It looks like bringing together local businesses, first responders, community partners, families, and residents for a little friendly competition. It looks like creating opportunities for our youth to get involved, learn new skills, get a certification, volunteer, and see their entire community come together. Most importantly, it looks like building relationships that extend far beyond a single event. It looks like the Dough Boys Pizza team making sure we, and anyone who stopped to chat, was well fed with a hot slice. It looks like meticulously timed trimming, cooking, wrapping, and serving schedules to make sure each team had their moment to showcase their work. It looks like 5 sets of community partners giving up 18 hours of their lives in the middle of the week to learn some new skills with local teens as they earn their ServSafes, and then camp out in the middle of Main St for a BBQ Cook Off to test their skills.
While, to some, the BBQ Cook-Off might seem like an excuse to eat some REALLY good food (and trust us, it absolutely is), there’s a much bigger purpose behind it.
As we enter the final year of this experience, we’re incredibly proud of the programming, partnerships, and community connections we’ve been able to develop. Events like yesterday remind us exactly why these initiatives matter.
To our BBQ teams, judges, volunteers, community partners, City departments, and EVERYONE who came out to support our this year: THANK YOU.
You ALL helped turn our little idea from last year into something truly special. And we couldn’t be more grateful to have a community that shows up the way North Adams does.
FINAL NUMBERS - JUDGES’ PICKS (out of 180 total points - these ballots were color coded, and submissions were delivered to judging table to allow for blind judging)
Best Overall: North Adams Ambulance Service, Inc with a total of 141 points
BRISKET NUMBERS (out of 60 total points)
EMS - 53.75
Best Brisket went to Adams Police Department - 54.5
NAFD - 38
NAPD - 42
GRAZIE - 37.5
Best Side (Mac n Cheese): (out of 60 total points)
EMS - 38
APD - 44.75
NAFD - 36
NAPD - 45
GRAZIE - 48.75
Best Sauce OR Second Side: (out of 60 total points)
EMS - 49.25 (Sauce)
APD - 41 (Banana Pudding)
NAFD - 39 (Sauce)
NAPD - 41.75 (Corn Bread)
GRAZIE - 38.5 (Beans)
FINAL NUMBERS - PEOPLES’ CHOICE (150 total ballots were cast for overall favorites in each category - similar to official judging, these ballots were color coded to allow for blind judging)
Best Overall: North Adams Fire Department
BRISKET NUMBERS
EMS - 25
Adams PD - 37
North Adams Firefighters Local 1781 - 39
NAPD - 22
GRAZIE - 23
Best Side: North Adams Police Department, Massachusetts
EMS - Mac n Cheese, 24
APD - Mac n Cheese, 29
NAPD - Mac n Cheese, 42
NAFD - Mac n Cheese, 27
GRAZIE - Mac n Cheese, 28
Best Sauce AND/OR Second Side: NAFD - Best Sauce | Grazie - Best Second Side!!
EMS - Sauce, 38
APD - Banana Pudding, 19
NAFD - Sauce, 31
NAPD - Corn Bread, 20
GRAZIE - Baked Beans, 42
