The Hot Brown Showdown event will be taking a break in 2024 to reassess and regroup our efforts to plan for 2025 and beyond as we gear up to the 100th anniversary of the Hot Brown in 2026!
The Hot Brown Showdown
Friends of Waterfront Park, the nonprofit auxiliary arm of Waterfront Park, debuted this new fundraising event in 2022 and it was held again in 2023 on the Festival Plaza at Waterfront Park.
This cook-off and tasting event invited restaurants and caterers from around the Bluegrass to compete for the title of the Best Hot Brown in Town!
Competing restaurants and caterers served 2 oz. servings of their own unique take on the famous Kentucky Hot Brown dish. Attendees were able to vote for their favorite dish and First, Second and Third places were awarded. There was also be a panel of judges composed of notable local personalities who will select a Judge’s Choice winner.
The local 6-piece newgrass-fusion ensemble, Hot Brown Smackdown performed live during the event. There were also local food trucks onsite, as well as a full bar with beer, bourbon, and other spirits available for purchase.
Friends of Waterfront Park produces the event, with proceeds benefiting Waterfront Park to ensure our waterfront remains an asset that can be enjoyed by the community forever.
Take a minute and check out the event photos from our 2022 Hot Brown Showdown!
Live music from
Hot Brown Smackdown!
Hot Brown Smackdown has delighted concert and festival goers for years, combining brightly textured, hard-driving, powerful bluegrass polyphony with high-energy groove and soul.
