PRESENTED BY:
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 | 11AM-4PM
Olive Branch City Park
The tantalizing aroma of sizzling wings and ribs will once again fill the air as the DeSoto Wings & Ribs Competition and Festival, presented by Homer Skelton Auto Group, returns to Olive Branch City Park on April 11, 2026.
Wing enthusiasts and families alike are invited to indulge in a day of flavor, fun, and philanthropy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prepare for an even more electrifying showdown this year as the Rib Cookoff Association officially sanctions both the rib AND wing competitions, guaranteeing an epic battle between the Mid-South’s top grill masters like you’ve never seen before.
Beyond the incredible food and friendly competition, the festival has a meaningful mission. All proceeds from the event benefit the DeSoto County Dream Center, helping launch the new Dream Center Olive Branch location and expand vital services that provide educational assistance, emergency food, and clothing to underserved individuals and families throughout the community.
Stay connected as we count down to the festival! Follow the DeSoto Wings & Ribs Competition & Festival on Facebook for team announcements, giveaways, event updates, and more.
WINGS AND RIBS TEAM INFO AND REGISTRATION
We look forward to seeing you and your team at the competition this year! Register below.
TEAMS MAY SIGN UP FOR THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
RIBS ($100 - Must provide 6 ribs for judging)
TRADITIONAL WINGS ($150 - Must provide 10 wings for judging)
UNIQUE WINGS ($150 - Must provide 10 wings for judging)
TRADITIONAL WINGS & UNIQUE WINGS ($200)
RIBS & TRADITIONAL WINGS ($200)
RIBS & UNIQUE WINGS ($200)
RIBS & TRADITIONAL WINGS & UNIQUE WINGS ($250)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE ($50 - WINNER TAKES HALF! (Must provide 300 wings for judging)
CASH PRIZES!
Traditional Wings:
1ST - $300
2ND - $200
3RD - $100
Ribs:
1ST - $800
2ND - $400
3RD - $300
4TH - $200
5TH - $150
6TH-10TH - $100
Unique Wings:
1ST - $300
2ND - $200
3RD - $100
People’s Choice Wings:(50/50 Split)
What Cooks Need to Know:
Visit the Rib CookOff Association website for more details on the rules to compete.
We’re excited to announce that Corky’s BBQ is generously providing 300 wings to every team participating in the People’s Choice Competition. Register by March 20th to claim yours! Don’t miss this chance to get your meat covered!
We’re thrilled to partner with Corky’s BBQ in making a positive impact in DeSoto County through their generous support this year.
Event Schedule
MUSICAL GUESTS: (MAIN STAGE)
_____________________________________
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM: TEAM LOAD IN
9:00 AM: COOK’S MEETING
11:00 AM: PEOPLE’S CHOICE TASTING BEGINS
11:00 AM: CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT BEGINS
1:00 PM: TURN IN TRADITIONAL WINGS
2:00 PM: TURN IN UNIQUE WINGS
2:30 PM: PEOPLE’S CHOICE TASTING ENDS
3:00 PM: TURN IN RIBS
3:00 PM: BLAZIN’ WINGS CHALLENGE BEGINS
4:00 PM: AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT
Wing Eating Opportunities
Do you love to eat hot wings? We have two amazing options for you! Enter the Blazin’ Challenge or be a People’s Choice Taster, or do BOTH! Sign up for either of these at the INFO TENT on April 11th at the festival.
Blazin’ Challenge
Here is your chance to be the Hot Wing Champion. The first 25 participants to sign up will be entered in the Wing Eating Competition to be held at 3:00pm. The Entry fee to compete is $10 and includes all of the hot wings that your mouth can handle!
PLEASE CHECK IN AT THE INFO TENT BY 2:30PM.
People’s Choice Taster
Purchase your People’s Choice Taster Ticket for $25 per person
Includes four People’s Choice Voting Chips
Sample championship-worthy wings from every participating team while supporting the DeSoto County Dream Center
PURCHASE PEOPLE’S CHOICE TICKETS AT THE INFO TENT.
Volunteer with us!
Help us build a strong community one relationship at a time!
Sponsor this Event
You make all the difference!
For more information about opportunities to sponsor the event and partner with DeSoto Dream Center in serving our community, please contact
Terri Sparkman at tsparkman@desotodreamcenter.org
*To protect our vendors, teams, and sponsors, please note that all official communication regarding the DeSoto Wings & Ribs Competition & Festival will come directly from the Desoto County Dream Center team.
If you are a kid zone vendor or event sponsor, you should only receive event information, setup instructions, and requests from Terri Sparkman or Lindsay Riden at: partner@desotodreamcenter.org or info@desotodreamcenter.org.
We will never request payment or sensitive information through social media messages or unofficial email addresses (only desotodreamcenter.org). If you receive communication claiming to represent this event from another source, please do not respond and notify our team immediately.
Toss for Dreams is a cornhole tournament brought to you by 662 Cornhole benefitting the DeSoto County Dream Center in our mission to help families and individuals dream again!
Learn more about opportunities to sponsor the tournament or partner in this work by donating. All sponsorships and donations are tax deductible.
Register your cornhole team!
* To protect our vendors, teams, and sponsors, please note that all official communication regarding the DeSoto Wings & Ribs Competition & Festival will come directly from the Desoto County Dream Center team.
If you are a kid zone vendor or event sponsor, you should only receive event information, setup instructions, and requests from Terri Sparkman or Lindsay Riden at: partner@desotodreamcenter.org or info@desotodreamcenter.org.
We will never request payment or sensitive information through social media messages or unofficial email addresses (only desotodreamcenter.org). If you receive communication claiming to represent this event from another source, please do not respond and notify our team immediately.