SPC Calls for CultureFest Food Competitors

St. Philip's College (SPC) invites all cooks, bakers and beverage connoisseurs from across the community to showcase their culinary talents during the food competitions at the college’s 31^st Annual CultureFest and Rib Cook-Off, the largest official Fiesta event on the east side of San Antonio.

The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 23, on the college’s MLK campus. Admission is free, and proceeds from the event help fund student scholarships. CultureFest is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, featuring a rib cook-off, live music, a car show and food and non-food vendors throughout the day.

As part of the celebration, community members can enter one of three food competition categories: pork ribs, desserts, or nonalcoholic beverages. These competitions highlight the creativity and culinary passion that have become a hallmark of CultureFest tradition.

Competitors in the rib category are asked to submit two racks of pre-sliced pork ribs. Participants may also enter dessert and nonalcoholic beverage creations, added to the competition last year during the festival’s 30th anniversary to expand opportunities for culinary expression.

All entries will be accepted from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on April 23 in the Heritage Room of the Cybersecurity Innovations Center building. The entry fee is $25 per submission, and individuals may compete in one or more categories.

Winners will receive first-, second-, and third-place trophies. The first-place rib champion will also earn a spot in the 2027 barbecue cook-off at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off, one of the region’s premier barbecue competitions.

The deadline to register for the food competitions is April 19. Those interested in participating can find contest rules and the online entry form on the CultureFest website at alamo.edu/spc/culturefest.