Doko Ribfest Is a Huge Success in Smalltown South Carolina
Thousands attended the 6th annual Doko Ribfest in Blythewood to feast on ribs, enjoy live music, and support the local community.
This week’s guest introduction is by Brent Shelton, a barbecue enthusiast originally from Arkansas who is now living in Columbia, South Carolina. Shelton’s family has barbecue roots in Kansas City and he has been avidly smoking meats for more than eleven years. If you want to write for The Smoke Sheet, please get in touch.
The city of Blythewood, South Carolina, hosted the 6th annual Doko Ribfest on Saturday, March 8. It was the first nice, warm day in the area this year, making for perfect barbecue competition weather. This year's event featured 53 teams cooking over 10,000 pounds of ribs, with each team receiving a case of 15 racks to prepare.
“It was the biggest Ribfest we’ve ever had,” said Doko Ribfest co-chair Mike Ross. “10,000 pounds of ribs, great weather, and at least 3,000 to 4,000 attendees, maybe more. It was a wonderful day, [with] big crowds and great ribs.”
Doko Ribfest pays homage to a time when the town of Blythewood was called Doko. It was the location of the Doko Depot railroad stop between Charlotte and Columbia. The annual event features a pork rib cooking contest, with proceeds benefiting the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund.
Teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and even as far away as Virginia make the trek to Blythewood for the annual event, which is fun for the whole family. This year, the Doko Ribfest consisted of two contest categories: professional and amateur.
In addition to the rib competition, the event featured live music, food trucks, and other vendors. Ribfest visitors could sample ribs from any of the teams, and attendees chose the winner of the People's Choice Award.
I was able to follow Kamese McDaniel, the pitmaster for the professional team Steel Smokin Smokers, a former coworker and friend of mine. Kamese has been competing all over the state with the South Carolina Barbecue Association for several years. He began preparing for this year's Ribfest not long after last year's Ribfest had concluded. Using his own unique rubs and sauces, it's no wonder his team always finishes strong in rib categories during competition season.
Chris Galvin, the pitmaster for the amateur team Grizzly Bear BBQ that I followed this year, has been making and selling BBQ and his own rubs for quite some time. Chris decided that he wanted to try his hand at competing this year. As with any first-time competitor, there were a few anxious moments leading up to and at the beginning of the event, with pride and relief coming at the end of a long day of cooking so many racks of ribs.
These two pitmasters are great at their craft and by the scores they received this year, it shows. Both teams finished in the top 10 in a very stacked competition.
Teams took home $8,500 in prize money. First place in the Professional Category went to Yes, Dear BBQ, while the winner of the Amateur Category was Blisterin Butts. Event attendees loved the ribs from Hall-N-Smoke, the winner of the People’s Choice Award. You can view all the results on the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce Doko Ribfest page.
According to The Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County, the successful event generated $52,400 in tickets, t-shirts, and souvenir cups and $30,000 in sponsorships. “It really does take a village of sponsors, attendees, and great volunteers,” Ross said.
After speaking with members of the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce and attendees of the event, it is clear to me that this year’s Ribfest was the best ever. I speak from personal experience when I say that this event keeps growing, and I believe that Doko Ribfest in 2026 is sure to be even bigger and better.
Brent Shelton
BBQ Enthusiast
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