IT'S time for the region's budding BaconFest barbecue champions to crank their preparations up a notch to 'full-boar' as the Sunpork Smoke-Off competition draws closer.

This year's Sunpork Smoke-Off, planned for August 23, is going to be bigger than ever as it won't have to contest against rivalling festivals or competitions.

Last year the BaconFest competition on shared the same date as the Burleigh BBQ Championship.

Despite the double serving of competing competitions, 20 teams entered the Sunpork Smoke-Off across five different categories: protein pork, protein pork ribs, protein beef ribs, protein chicken and protein pork belly.

Fortunately, this year's BaconFest event will be the only barbecue competitions held on the same day in Queensland, and the only other Australian Barbecue Alliance-registered competition due to take place will be in Victoria.

Organisers are therefore expecting a porkier field of entrants, so if you want to take out the top gong, you will need to be tip-top competing shape on the day.

And the best way to practise for one event, can be to compete in others.

If you're prepared to travel around, here are two more Australasian Barbecue Alliance barbecue competitions in Queensland that you might want to check out in the lead-up to BaconFest.

TOWNSVILLE BBQ BATTLE

When: June 21 to 22

Where: D Park, 21 The Strand

Website: http://tsvbbqbattle.com/

BRISBANE BBQ FESTIVAL

When: July 27 to 28

Where: The Sporting Fields, 271 Gilchrist Ave, Victoria Park, Herston

Website: http://www.brisbanebbqfestival.com/

You can also check out the Australian Barbecue Alliance website for some inspiration. It has a range of videos featuring different methods of cooking succulent barbecue delights, as well as the ABA code of conduct, rules and news.