Follow the smell of barbecue to Cascade Home Center during the 4th Annual Cottage Grove Community Cook-Off. This popular community fundraiser returns on Saturday, September 26, bringing local cooking teams and hungry visitors together during Cottage Grove Oktoberfest.
The cook-off will take place from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM outside Cascade Home Center at 40 South 5th Street in Cottage Grove. Competitors will put their barbecue skills to the test while community members enjoy the food, festive atmosphere and friendly competition.
Previous Cottage Grove Community Cook-Offs have featured smoked brisket, ribs, homemade sides and voting for crowd favorites. The event has grown into more than a cooking contest—it is an opportunity for neighbors to gather, enjoy locally prepared barbecue and raise money for youth athletics. The official 2026 event is presented by Cascade Home Center and South Valley Athletics, with all proceeds benefiting South Valley Athletics.
The cook-off is happening during Cottage Grove Oktoberfest, so visitors can make a full day of it. Additional festivities throughout downtown will include live entertainment, local vendors, shopping, farmers-market booths, kids’ activities and biergartens for guests 21 and older.
Admission: No separate gate-admission charge has been announced for the cook-off, and admission to the surrounding Cottage Grove Oktoberfest is free. Barbecue plates, tastings or other food items will be available as part of the fundraiser. The organizers have not yet published the final 2026 food prices, so visitors should bring money for purchases and check with the organizers closer to the event.
Contact information: For cook-off questions, contact Cascade Home Center at 541-942-1301. Questions about the benefiting organization may be directed to South Valley Athletics at southvalleyathletics@gmail.com or 541-942-3079 during its published weekday business hours.
Bring your appetite, support local youth sports and see which cooking team earns Cottage Grove barbecue bragging rights for 2026.