We’re having a competition bbq cookoff this weekend in a neighboring town. They say they will have 30-50 competitors. They say there will be vendors and entertainment  there but by reading very carefully I see no mention of being able to sample or purchase any of the competition entered food. So why would I want to go to watch others cook food that I couldn’t sample?
Seriously a few years ago this is exactly what happened. Big event, decent music but no competitor food available. Only food available was from vendors where the only criteria was you were able to pay the fee.
Thoughts?

This isn’t unusual, for the reasons other mention.  I usually skip out on the local BBQ fest here, since actual bbq made by anyone other than the “slap some Sysco BBQ sauce on some chopped pork” vendors is pretty hard to find. The actual competitors usually don’t have food for sale or sample.