All team spots are filled for the 2026 Battle Below the Clouds BBQ competition. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please complete the form below. Completing the form does not guarantee a spot in the competition. If a spot becomes available, teams on the waitlist will be contacted on a first come basis.

Once contacted, prospective teams have 24 hours to confirm their participation and pay the registration fee/donation before the spot is offered to the next team on the waitlist.

By joining the waitlist, you will be added to the Battle Below the Clouds newsletter email to receive information about next year's competition. If you don't receive a spot for this year's event, we hope you'll join us on April 25 from 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM for a fun day with live bluegrass music, BBQ and beer, kid's activities, and giveaways.

Thanks!


100% of entry fees are donated to Lana's Love Foundation to provide fun activities for kids with cancer and their families. We look forward to a fun competition and can't wait to see what comes off your grills and smokers!

Question Title

* 1. ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER

The team captain must reside within 200 miles of Ruby Falls. Battle Below the Clouds is an amateur competition and all team members must qualify as amateur backyard cooks as defined by Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) rules. To qualify, teams may not include any participants who have competed in more than 3 KCBS sanctioned “Master Series” BBQ competitions within the current competition year and teams cannot include participants awarded Grand Champion or Reserve Champion status in any KCBS sanctioned “Master Series” competition. (Battle Below the Clouds is not a KCBS “Master Series” competition; participation in our competition does not count towards KCBS sanctioned event and award limits.) A team may include one person, or a chief cook with as many assistants as the chief cook deems necessary. The cook must be at least 18-years old.

By selecting YES, you are affirming your team's eligibility to enter Ruby Falls Battle Below the Clouds based on the requirements listed above.

Question Title

* 2. TEAM NAME

Question Title

* 3. TEAM CAPTAIN

Question Title

* 4. ENTER CONTACT INFORMATION for the person who will receive and respond to all event emails. All event information will be sent to the email you enter below.

Question Title

* 5. REQUESTED COMPETITION SITE SIZE
Reserve a size that adequately fits your tent and all equipment. If a wait listed team is cleared for registration, the team captain will be sent payment instructions.

Competition site sizes for waitlist teams will be based on availability.

By entering the cook-off, each team member grants Ruby Falls permission to use their image and/or voice in photographs, video, and audio for any purpose, including but not limited to social media, print media, publications, outdoor advertising, news releases, blogs, digital media, and in other communications related to promotion, advertising and trade without compensation or other consideration.

T