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If you’re looking for something a little different, a little wild, and definitely not your average food festival, the World Champion Squirrel Cook Off in Springdale, Arkansas, delivers.
I attended the event Saturday, Sept. 12, at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, and it was one of those events that is hard to forget.
It was fun, authentic and genuinely interesting.
The cook-off brings together teams of outdoor cooks who take one unusual ingredient — squirrel — and turn it into everything from traditional wild-game dishes to surprisingly creative meals. About 40 teams took part this year, firing up grills, smokers, camp stoves and cast-iron cookware.
And yes, there was plenty of squirrel.
A very Arkansas kind of food competition
What makes the event so interesting isn’t just the food. It’s the people.
There was a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere as cooks prepared their dishes and visitors walked from table to table checking out what was being served. The event is rooted in hunting, fishing, conservation and the outdoor traditions of the Ozarks.
For someone who has never eaten squirrel, this is probably about as unusual as a food festival gets.
But that’s also part of the fun.
If you’re brave enough, you can actually try some.
The cooking teams prepare samples for visitors, giving people an opportunity to experience squirrel prepared in ways they might never have imagined. Past competitions have featured dishes ranging from squirrel tacos and chili to more creative preparations.
More than just squirrel
The cook-off isn’t simply about eating unusual food.
There were outdoor activities, demonstrations and competitions, including the World Champion Squirrel Skinning Competition and the World’s Hottest Squirrel Eating Competition. The event also featured outdoor education activities and an AGFC K-9 demonstration.
That’s what made the day feel more like a celebration of Arkansas culture and the outdoors than simply a cooking contest.
And perhaps the best part?
It was free.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has partnered with event founder Joe Wilson to bring the competition to the Ozark Highlands Nature Center. Wilson originally started the cook-off in 2012, and the event returned to the Springdale location after the pandemic.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
Even if you’re not sure about eating squirrel, the World Champion Squirrel Cook Off is worth experiencing. It’s unusual, entertaining and a great example of the kind of quirky, authentic events that make Arkansas interesting.
You might come for the spectacle.
You might come for the outdoor atmosphere.
You might come just to say you’ve eaten squirrel.
Whatever the reason, it’s definitely not your ordinary Saturday afternoon.
And if you’re brave enough…
Pull up a chair, grab a sample and see what squirrel tastes like. 
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