Sutherlin Throwdown: Bags, BBQ & Brews
Our hometown's biggest summer party returns July 18–19 — a sanctioned BBQ competition, a beer & wine fest, and a serious cornhole tournament. Crystal Creek proudly supplies some of the top contestants every year, so come taste what our meat can do.
If you only make it to one event in Douglas County this summer, make it the Sutherlin Throwdown. Two days of championship barbecue, cold local brews, and bracket-style cornhole right in the heart of our hometown — and a whole lot of Crystal Creek beef going up in smoke.
Established in 2023, the Throwdown has quickly become the highlight of the Sutherlin summer calendar. It pulls competition pitmasters, regional breweries and wineries, and hundreds of cornhole players into one park for a weekend that smells like hickory smoke and tastes like a county fair grew up.
What Goes Down
- Sanctioned BBQ competition — teams throwing down on brisket, ribs, pork, and chicken for cash and bragging rights.
- Beer & wine fest — pours from breweries and wineries across the region.
- Cornhole tournament — bring your A-game (and your boards) for the bracket.
- Live music, food vendors, and family-friendly fun all weekend long.
Crystal Creek in the Competition
We are proud that several of the Throwdown's top-finishing teams trust Crystal Creek for their competition meat every year. When you taste a winning brisket or a rack of ribs that takes a trophy, there is a good chance it started in our case on Central Avenue. Come find out why the competitors come to us first.
Cook Like a Competitor
Want to throw down in your own backyard? Start with the same cuts the pros pull from our counter. A whole packer brisket is the ultimate test of low-and-slow patience, and a marbled ribeye is the fastest way to look like a hero at the grill.
Brisket
The centerpiece of any serious BBQ team. Ask our counter to trim it competition-style.
“Good barbecue starts long before the smoke — it starts with the meat you choose.”
— The Crystal Creek Counter
Plan Your Visit
- When: Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026.
- Where: Central Park in downtown Sutherlin, Oregon — just minutes from our shop.
- Tickets & team registration: head to the official Throwdown site for the latest schedule, vendor list, and sign-ups.
Stop by the Crystal Creek counter the week before to stock up — whether you are competing, tailgating, or just feeding a hungry crew between rounds of cornhole. We will see you at the Throwdown.
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