Accommodations

Transportation

For transportation to and from Memphis International Airport, we recommend Uber, Lyft, or taxi. Memphis has surprisingly few rideshare options given its size, so it might be easier to hail a taxi than to schedule an Uber on a notoriously busy weekend.

Transportation to and from all official events will be run by EventOps, primarily via 6-passenger golf carts. Signage will be located in the hotel lobby to indicate pickup/dropoff sites, and all carts will have credentials displayed.

Parking

If you are driving to Memphis, parking is available at the Westin. Notify them that you will be parking a vehicle when you check in; the cost will be covered.

The Main Event

The weekend’s festivities center around the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC), of which Cattlemen’s & Grill Mates are title sponsors. The WCBCC is part of the annual Memphis In May International Festival that has been taking place for nearly 35 years. Cattlemen’s has been the presenting sponsor for nearly 30 of those! This is one of the premier championship barbecue cooking competitions in the world, attracting upwards of 150 teams both domestically and internationally. It’s also one of the biggest parties on the Mighty Mississippi River!

This year, the festival will take place in the newly renovated Tom Lee Park, adjacent to Downtown Memphis. The Westin Hotel is only about a 12-minute walk to the park entrance.

Cattlemen’s & Grill Mates will have a dedicated tent at the WCBCC with a designated VIP area for all guests. Cooking demos will be taking place all weekend on a nearby stage. Click here for a festival map. The tent is not noted on the map, but it is located near the large red merchandise tent shown in the bottom center of the graphic. EventOps will ensure you arrive near the tent entrance, but you can also look for the large black & white striped umbrella to know you are in the right spot.

Weather

The average high in Memphis in May is 81°, and the average low is 62°; however, the exact weather is notoriously unpredictable this time of year. There is typically a chance of a late spring rain shower, and the humidity can be quite high.

Suggested Dress

Comfort and adaptability will be key. The WCBCC takes place in a large riverside park in Downtown Memphis, and since the weather can be unpredictable, the ground could be wet or muddy. The Cattlemen’s & Grill Mates tent space will have flooring but regardless, do not wear your finest shoes! With highs in the 80’s but breeze coming off the Mississippi River, the temperature should be warm but not unbearable. The operative word here is should. Definitely bring a rain jacket just in case.

Many restaurants and attractions are within walking distance of the Westin. With a limited supply of rideshares, we suggest wearing comfortable shoes outside of the main events as well to walk to meals and attractions.

Credentials

You will need a pass at all times to access the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and you will need further credentials to gain entry into the Cattlemen’s & Grill Mates VIP Tent. These will be waiting for you at the hotel upon your arrival.

Schedule

For a detailed schedule of the weekend’s events, please navigate to the 2023 Schedule page.

Follow Along & Join In

We’ll be covering the event through a variety of social channels, and we’d encourage you to follow along through the links below. If you post photos of your own during the event, please remember to tag us! Any photos taken at the Cattlemen’s and Grill Mates event space may be used for promotional purposes.

• IG: McCormick For Chefs

• IG: McCormick Spice

• FB: Grill Mates

• TikTok: Grill Mates

Help/Questions

Your dedicated event concierge phone number is: (901) 509-7763. Text is best. We’re here for you if you get turned around, have airport troubles, or even if you just need help knowing what to do next.

You may also reach out via email with any inquiries you may have, but please note that the week of the event texting may receive faster responses.