What would a Cracklin Festival be without a Cracklin Cookoff?

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Every year one of the highlights of our festival is the Cracklin Cookoff. Amateur and professional cracklin cookers square off in separate categories for bragging rights and big trophies! We go to great lengths to ensure a fair and impartial contest because the competition is fierce! The Lions Club usually gathers cracklin samples right after lunchtime on Sunday. We then anonymize the samples so our judges can give us impartial scores in areas such as crispness, seasoning, meat content, etc.

In addition to cracklin cooking ability, we also have awards for our contestants who go out of their way to decorate their cooking booths. 

After all of the scores have been counted, we announce our winners around 3:00pm on Sunday.

Join in the Fun!

If you would like to participate in the Cracklin Cookoff being held Sunday, November 16, 2025, entries must be received by Saturday, November 15, 2025. Please click HERE for entry form and payment. Don't delay! Space is limited!

RULES:

There will be TWO cooking divisions - PORK and CHICKEN! To be eligible to compete in the CHICKEN division you MUST compete in the PORK division!

  • Cooks and assistant(s) must be 18 yrs. or older.

  • Cooks are to furnish everything needed to cook Cracklins including but not limited to Pork fat, Chicken Skin/Meat, and seasoning.

  • Cracklin fat may be trimmed.  Fat is to be trimmed by cook or assistant(s) only!

  • Entry fee of $50 (PER TEAM). You must sign up and pay fees by November 15, 2025! No exceptions!

  • You will be allowed to sell Cracklins. This will have a set price as to how much you will charge. Please bring brown paper bags or Ziploc bags for distribution if you choose to sell.

  • Cooking teams must be on the festival grounds by 9 AM with everything needed to compete in cook-off.

  • Cracklins will be picked up for judging between 12 PM and 1 PM.

  • There will be awards for “Best Dressed”, “Best Booth Decorations”, and “Sportsmanship.”  Awards ceremony will take place PROMPTLY at 3 PM!

  • It is your responsibility to keep the cooking area clean. Absolutely no grease is to be discarded on the festival grounds, a bin is provided for all to dispose of grease properly. If you do not dispose of grease properly there will be a $200 fine. If fine is not paid you will be disqualified and banned from participating in the Port Barre Cracklin Festival Cook off indefinitely.

  • 3 Bracelets will be provided for team members and must be worn at all times.

  • Absolutely no outside food or drink will be allowed on Festival Grounds.

CONTACT DESIREE AT 337-692-3311 FOR MORE INFORMATION!!!

Questions?

If you have questions for our Booth and Cookoff Coordinator, please use the link below to contact them via email.