World Champion Eater to appear during full weekend featuring award-winning barbecue classics, a beer garden and family-friendly events

Mesquite Gaming, owner of the Casablanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel, is excited to announce World Champion Eater Joey Chestnut will be participating in this year’s three-day barbecue festival, the 4th Annual 2021 CasaBlanca Rib Fest. Kicking off Friday, Sept. 10, the Casablanca Rib Fest will feature some of the country’s best barbecue vendors cooking up delicious ribs and barbecue in addition to fun tailgating games, daily eating contests, and a DJ to keep the energy high through Sunday.

Fresh off a record-setting victory at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York, Chowdown Champ Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will be judging, eating and autographing per this schedule on Saturday, Sept. 11:

Noon-2 p.m.– CasaBlanca Event Center- Joey Chestnut will judge watermelon eating competitions.

  1. Noon – Mesquite School Principles competition – The Mesquite school’s principles will go against each other- the winning school will receive a $500 donation from Mesquite Gaming to their school.
  2. 2 p.m. – Mesquite Police Department vs. Mesquite Fire Department- The two departments will go against each other. The winning department will get a $1,000 donation to their charity of choice on behalf of Mesquite Gaming.

2-3 p.m.– CasaBlanca Event Center- Joey Chestnut autograph session- Free to the public.

7 p.m.– CasaBlanca Showroom – BBQ Food eating competition. Joey Chestnut will go against select VIPs in a BBQ food eating competition – Free to the public to attend.

“Our three barbecue competition teams have each been perfecting their recipes for decades and have won countless prestigious awards,” said Christian Adderson, assistant general manager at Mesquite Gaming. “Having the #1 Eater in the world, Joey Chestnut, on hand will add a new level of excitement to the entertaining festivities our visitors have come to expect.

Notable food vendors include Austin’s Texas Lightning, who has more than 30 years of experience serving award winning barbecue, Chicago BBQ Company, who won first place at 2017’s Best in the West Rib Festival, and Texas Outlaw BBQ, who boasts more than 250 first place awards in its 25 years. This year, attendees will get to choose which barbecue they love the most and vote for the People’s Choice. Participants can vote once per day on casablancaresort.com and the team with the most votes by Sunday evening will win $2,000.

This year’s full CasaBlanca Rib Fest schedule of activities is as follows:

FRIDAY, SEPT. 10

CasaBlanca Events Center 1 – 7 p.m.

Beginning at 1 p.m., attendees can enjoy barbecue and carnival-style food vendors, beer garden, tailgate activities and games, and live music with DJ Lex.  The day’s schedule also includes children’s watermelon eating contests and prize giveaways.

  • 4:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: The Coyote 102.7 vs. KONY 99.9 Utah Radio
  • 5 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 8 to 9 year-olds
  • 5:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 10 to 11-year-olds
  • 7 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 12 to 13 year-olds

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11

CasaBlanca Events Center 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Beginning at 11 a.m., attendees can enjoy barbecue and carnival-style food vendors, beer garden, tailgate activities and games, and music with DJ Lex. The day’s schedule also includes children’s watermelon eating contests and prize giveaways.

  • Noon: Watermelon Eating Contest: Virgin Valley High School Principal vs. Hughes Middle School Principal
  • 2 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: Mesquite Police Department vs. Mesquite Fire Department
  • 3:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 8 to 9 year-olds
  • 4 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 10 to 11 year-olds
  • 5 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 12 to 13 year-olds

CasaBlanca Showroom 7 – 8 p.m.

Joey Chestnut will go against select VIPs in a BBQ food eating competition and try to break his own BBQ eating record

SUNDAY, SEPT. 12

CasaBlanca Showroom 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Beginning at 11 a.m., attendees can enjoy barbecue and carnival-style food vendors, beer garden, tailgate activities and games, and music with DJ Lex. The day’s schedule also includes children’s watermelon eating contests and prize giveaways.

  • Noon: Watermelon Eating Contest: 8 to 9 year-olds
  • 1 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 10 to 11 year-olds
  • 2 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 12 to 13 year-olds

The CasaBlanca Rib Fest is free and open to the public. For more information, visit casablancaresort.com/mesquite-bbq or follow Mesquite Gaming on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.