There is, of course, a party atmosphere to the American Royal. Old friends gather here to not only compete for the best barbecue, but the best party. This is particularly true on Friday night while most of the more than 500 competition teams are waiting for the open competition to start on Saturday, and while those invited to the invitational are slaving away over their smokers. Friday night at the American Royal is a continuous party, or more accurately about 100 continuous parties with people walking from one to another way into the early hours of the morning. Bands and DJ's are hired and alcohol flows freely from site to site.

