It’s BBQ Block Party time!

GVB invites everyone to the 7th Annual Pleasure Island Guam BBQ Block Party on Saturday, July 6

(Tumon, Guam) — The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) announced the festivities planned for the 7th Annual Pleasure Island Guam BBQ Block Party taking place on Saturday, July 6, 2019 from 5:30 – 10 p.m. at Pleasure Island in Tumon. GVB invites residents and visitors around the island to join them in the heart of Tumon for Guam’s biggest and most delicious BBQ competition. The event is family friendly and admission free.

The BBQ Block Party is an annual GVB signature event that closes San Vitores Road in Pleasure Island, between T Galleria by DFS and The Plaza Shopping Center, for a pedestrian-only event, offering Guam’s favorite BBQ competition, live entertainment, activities for the family, food and beverage vendors, shopping and more!

GVB Vice President Bobby Alvarez said, “Once a year, we gather the best BBQ grill masters from around our island to compete in Guam’s biggest BBQ event. They help us to showcase Guam’s unique BBQ culture, and we are able to share our island’s hospitality and Håfa Adai spirit on the streets of Pleasure Island. BBQs bring people together and this event has grown to bring over 10 thousand people together every year. This is how popular CHamoru BBQ has become!”

BBQ Competition

The Micronesian Chefs Association will be managing and judging the annual BBQ competition during this event, and the team at Deloitte & Touche will officially tally the results. This year, eight teams will compete in the three BBQ categories -- chicken, pork and beef – to win $4,600 in cash prizes. One of Guam’s chefs will be crowned the Ultimate Grill Master Champion. Trophies and prizes will be awarded at 9:00 p.m. on the main stage.

Chef Peter Duenas, owner and team captain of Team Meskla, will be returning to defend his back-to-back titles from 2017-2018. Previous champions, Team GCC led by Chef Paul Kerner, and Team Åsu Smokehouse, led by Chef Buddy Orsini, will be competing as well.

2019 BBQ Competitors:

• ÅSU SMOKEHOUSE
• DUSIT THANI GUAM RESORT
• GUAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE
• MESKLA
• OUTRIGGER GUAM BEACH RESORT
• TEAM DOKGNOS
• GUAM BARBECUE COMPANY (TUNU)
• SEA GRILL RESTAURANT

Family Friendly Activities Planned

Attendees will be able to purchase food and treats from Guam’s most popular confectioneries, food and beverage vendors to include some of the BBQ competitors, and merchandise vendors. Team GCC and Team Dokgnos will be giving out free BBQ samples, while supplies last.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the event’s program will begin, kicking off a full night of live music performances on the main stage:

• 5:30 p.m. - BBQ Block Party opens
• 6:00 p.m. - Evan De Silva (Ukulele Musician from Singapore)
• 7:00 p.m. - Fat Tofu (Guam)
• 8:00 p.m. - Left Turn Right (Guam)
• 9:00 p.m. - BBQ Award Presentations
• 9:15 p.m. - 4for4 (Guam)
• 10:00 p.m. -  Event ends

T Galleria by DFS will be offering free gifts with purchase and in-store specials on July 6 throughout the event. Shoppers can inquire at T Galleria by DFS for more details.

Parking and road closure notice

San Vitores Road in Tumon — from the crosswalk between UnderWater World and T Galleria by DFS to the SandCastle entrance traffic light — will be closed from 9 a.m. Saturday, July 6 through 3:00 a.m. Sunday, July 7 to ensure the safety of event participants. Parking will be available at properties in Pleasure Island Tumon and at Ypao Beach Park’s north lot, where a free trolley service will shuttle guests in 20-minute intervals. The public is also reminded that pets, outside food, drinks and coolers are not allowed. GVB asks that motorists pay special attention to pedestrian traffic on July 6. GVB thanks the Visitor Safety Officers, Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department and the Department of Public Works for their valuable support of the event and keeping everyone safe.

Without the community’s partnership, this event would not be possible. GVB would like to thank its partners and sponsors for their support of the Pleasure Island Guam BBQ Block Party — Pleasure Island Presenting Sponsors T Galleria by DFS, The Plaza Shopping Center, Outrigger Guam Beach Resort, and Dusit Thani Guam Resort; Non-alcoholic Beverage Sponsors Pepsi Guam Bottling and Monster Energy Drinks; Alcoholic Beverage Sponsor Miller Lite; with special thanks to The Stations of KUAM, Triple J Five Star Wholesale, Micronesian Chefs Association, Deloitte & Touche LLP and Philippine Airlines.

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer