From Friday Night Prep to the Final Rib: Inside the 2026 Nisswa Fall Festival & Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | Downtown Nisswa, Minnesota
The 2026 Nisswa Fall Festival & Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge started long before the first rib was served.
From Friday night rib prep at the Nisswa Fire Department fire hall to Saturday morning breakfast at A&W Nisswa, live music, artisan vendors, Nisswa Lions Pork-on-a-Stick, pie eating and hours of BBQ, downtown Nisswa was full of activity from start to finish.
We were there to capture the story from the prep work to the final ribs.
It Started the Night Before
For the BBQ teams, Saturday’s competition really began Friday night.
Contestants gathered at the Nisswa Fire Department fire hall, where Schaefer’s Foods delivered the ribs for the competition.
From there, the teams got to work.
Ribs were trimmed and prepared. Supplies were organized. Teams started planning for the long day ahead.
It was the quieter side of an event most people only see once the smokers are rolling and the crowds arrive.
By the time visitors made their way downtown Saturday morning, hours of work had already gone into the competition.
Saturday Started With Breakfast and a Big Community Win
By 7:00 AM Saturday, Fall Festival was already underway at A&W Nisswa.
The Nisswa Fire Department Breakfast ran from 7:00 to 10:30 AM and brought together firefighters, volunteers, families and community members for one of the earliest events of the day.
It also made a big impact.
According to A&W Nisswa, the breakfast raised $4,944.80 for the Nisswa Fire Department through breakfast sales and donations.
That brought A&W Nisswa’s total raised for the department in 2026 to $17,738.22 through T-shirt sales, the Easter Breakfast, National Night Out and the Fall Festival Breakfast.
A&W Nisswa also shared that in just two years, they have raised $37,738.22 for the Nisswa Fire Department.
A special thank you goes to Andy and Katie Schaefer and Schaefer’s Foods, who donated the food for the breakfast.
Before the first rib was served, Fall Festival had already delivered something much bigger than BBQ.
The Nisswa Fire Department Breakfast at A&W Nisswa raised $4,944.80 for the department during Fall F The Nisswa Fire Department Breakfast at A&W Nisswa raised $4,944.80 for the department during Fall F The Nisswa Fire Department Breakfast at A&W Nisswa raised $4,944.80 for the department during Fall F
By Midmorning, Downtown Nisswa Was Fully Awake
At 10:00 AM, the Fall Artisan and Crafters Market opened in Pioneer Village.
Artists, makers and vendors filled the area while visitors moved through downtown, stopped into local businesses and settled in for a full day in Nisswa.
At the same time, BBQ teams were getting smokers going and preparing for the competition ahead.
Soon the smell of BBQ was drifting through town.
That is one of the things that makes Fall Festival such a fun day to cover.
There is not just one event happening.
There is activity everywhere.
The Fall Artisan and Crafters Market added another layer of activity to an already busy downtown Nis The Fall Artisan and Crafters Market added another layer of activity to an already busy downtown Nis The Fall Artisan and Crafters Market added another layer of activity to an already busy downtown Nis
The Smokers Were Rolling
While visitors explored downtown, the BBQ teams were settling in for the long cook.
Smokers were fired up.
Ribs went on.
Teams watched temperatures, checked timing and made small adjustments throughout the day.
The prep work from Friday night was now turning into the main event.
As the afternoon got closer, the smell of smoke and BBQ became impossible to miss.
Hours of preparation went into every rack of ribs served during the Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge. Hours of preparation went into every rack of ribs served during the Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge. Hours of preparation went into every rack of ribs served during the Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge.
Live Music Became the Soundtrack to the Day
Music filled different corners of Nisswa throughout the afternoon.
Brendan Flynn performed in Pioneer Village from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The Mark Peterson Band took over The Pickle Stage from 1:00 to 3:30 PM.
Later, Wyld Ryce kept the music going from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
Between the music, crowds, BBQ smoke and fall atmosphere, the entire area had that unmistakable Nisswa festival feel.
Live music kept the energy going throughout Fall Festival Saturday. Live music kept the energy going throughout Fall Festival Saturday. Live music kept the energy going throughout Fall Festival Saturday.
A Little Friendly Competition
The Pickle Factory area stayed busy throughout the afternoon.
At 1:00 PM, the Cornhole Tournament sponsored by Nisswa Ace Hardware got underway.
At the same time, the Bocce Ball Tournament sponsored by Nic’s Works Tree Service & Ice Guys Rentals began on The Pickle Factory bocce courts.
It added another element to an already packed afternoon.
You could watch a game, listen to live music, walk downtown, grab something to eat and still have plenty of time before the ribs were served.
Cornhole and bocce ball brought a little friendly competition to the afternoon. Cornhole and bocce ball brought a little friendly competition to the afternoon.
We Had to Make One Important Midday Stop
With everything happening around town, we still had to stop by the Nisswa Lions pork wagon.
Their famous Pork-on-a-Stick was calling.
There are certain foods that become part of an event, and Pork on a Stick has become one of those familiar Nisswa favorites.
So somewhere between taking photos, checking on the BBQ teams and moving around downtown, we made time for a quick stop at the wagon.
It was worth it.
Then Things Got a Little Messy
At 3:00 PM, attention shifted to The Pickle Factory parking lot for the Pie Eating Contest sponsored by Knotty Pine Bakery.
No forks.
No hesitation.
Plenty of pie.
The contest brought a big crowd and plenty of laughs as competitors did their best to finish first while keeping at least some of the pie off their faces.
It was one of those simple moments that makes an event like this memorable.
Then Came the Ribs
By late afternoon, everything the BBQ teams had been working toward was finally coming together.
The smokers had been running for hours.
Ribs were coming off.
Teams were slicing.
Judging was underway.
And the crowd was ready.
VIP tasting began at 4:15 PM inside the Party Time Rental VIP Tent.
At 4:45 PM, general tasting opened.
And just like that, it was rib time.
Tasting Your Way Through the Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge
One of the best parts of the Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge is that every team brings something different.
Some ribs lean sweet.
Some are smoky.
Some bring more heat.
Others stay closer to a traditional BBQ flavor.
Guests moved from team to team, tasting ribs and deciding which one deserved their vote for People’s Choice.
There was no shortage of opinions.
And that is part of the fun.
Guests made their way through the BBQ area tasting ribs and choosing their favorites. Guests made their way through the BBQ area tasting ribs and choosing their favorites. Guests made their way through the BBQ area tasting ribs and choosing their favorites. Guests made their way through the BBQ area tasting ribs and choosing their favorites.
The 2026 Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge Winners
At 6:30 PM, the crowd turned toward The Pickle Stage for the final awards.
The 2026 winners were: 1st Place: Bone Island | Prize: $2,000
2nd Place: Bailey Acres | Prize: $1,000
3rd Place: Ju-See BBQ | Prize: $700
VIP Choice: Wrecking Crew BBQ | Prize: $150
People’s Choice: American Piggers | Prize: $150
The People Who Make It Possible
A day like this takes a lot of people.
A huge thank you to the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce for bringing the Nisswa Fall Festival & Smokin' Hot BBQ Challenge together.
Thank you to Schaefer's Foods for presenting the event, supplying the ribs and supporting the Nisswa Fire Department breakfast.
Thank you to Ye Old Pickle Factory for being at the center of so much of the day's activity.
And thank you to the sponsors, BBQ teams, judges, musicians, vendors, downtown businesses, firefighters and volunteers who put in the work long before most of us ever arrived.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who came to Nisswa and enjoyed the day.
One More Fall Festival in the Books
From Friday night prep to the final awards, this was more than just a BBQ competition. It was one of those weekends that captures what makes fall in Nisswa so special.
It was early mornings and late nights. It was volunteers, firefighters, local businesses, BBQ teams, musicians, families and friends all playing a part. It was the smell of smoke in the air, music in the background, a stop for Pork-on-a-Stick, a little pie on a few faces and plenty of ribs to go around.
Most of all, it was a community coming together and enjoying a beautiful fall weekend in the Lakes Area.
Another Nisswa Fall Festival & Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge is officially in the books, and we are already looking forward to doing it all over again next year.
