Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off

The event is held at Victorian Square in Sparks and has taken place annually over the Labor Day weekend since 1989; it is sponsored by the Nugget Casino Resort.

[1] The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off began in 1989, with six entries and a small group of casino customers.

The initial event did not involve cooking the ribs on-site, but rather reheating them with cans of Sterno fuel.

[2][3] The event is the main attraction for Sparks, and is mentioned in travel guides[4][5][6] and barbecue books.

In 2007 the event, for the first time, drew half a million visitors, and has done so every following year, serving up to 100 tons of St. Louis-style ribs.