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Experienced barbecue grillers, amateur cooks and tasters are all welcome at the 13th annual Brookline Tailgate & Barbecue/Grilling Cook-Off, a friendly two-day barbecuing competition.

The event, which returns to Brookline Ball Park on Saturday, July 21, and Sunday, July 22, features one competition each day — a four-category barbecue and grilling contest on Saturday, and a two-category tailgate barbecue contest on Sunday — plus a “Junior-Q” competition for kids, People’s Choice judging, horseshoe and cornhole tournaments, a barbecue chicken dinner and more.

It’s presented by the Brookline Fire Department Association in partnership with the Northeast Barbecue Society.

Sheryl Corey, president of the Brookline Fire Department Association, said both competitions are open to professional and amateur grillers. Categories for Saturday’s competition include pizza, beef, shrimp and dessert, while Sunday’s categories are chicken wings and pork ribs.

“It’s great for anyone who just loves to do backyard grilling and smoking and may want to try their hand at a competition to come out,” Corey said. “Then some may even go on to the bigger events from there. We’ve had several teams that start here and go on to bigger competitions, for sure.”

Teams must provide their own meats, seasonings, sauces, and other ingredients and tools necessary to cook and serve their entrees. All types of fuel sources, such as charcoal, wood, propane and electricity, are permitted. Each participant receives a cooking site about 20 feet long by 20 feet wide and cannot exceed that space.

All food must be cooked on site (no pre-seasoning or pre-marinating prior to the competitions), with the exception of pizza dough, sauces and toppings. For each category, a panel of six NEBS-certified judges will score each dish based on taste, tenderness and appearance.

“They have to follow all of the [NEBS] rules and regulations, which are provided in the rule packet when they sign up,” Corey said.

Also happening on Sunday from noon to 2:30 p.m., barbecue lovers can pay an entry fee of $5 to participate in the People’s Choice Contest. Each admission fee includes five samples per person to taste, with the opportunity to cast votes on your favorite chicken wings entry.

Cash prizes are awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners, while fourth- and fifth-place winners are awarded commemorative medallions, according to Corey.

Other staples of the weekend will include hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages and pulled pork sandwiches for sale during both days from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus a chicken barbecue dinner on Saturday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and a community breakfast on Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m., featuring items like all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, milk and juice. Tickets are required for both the dinner and the breakfast.

Corey said a portion of the proceeds collected throughout the weekend benefits the Brookline Fire Department, while the rest goes to the Northeast Barbecue Society.