The center of the burgoo universe is Owensboro, Kentucky . Owensboro is about mid-way between Cincinnati, OH and St. Louis, MO on the Ohio River. As part of the festival teams from charitable organizations, churches or businesses compete to be named the best. You will also find live entertainment, a midway with rides and games, arts and crafts as well as other foods. Many area Catholic churches have annual picnics during the summer months.
People travel for miles to their favorite picnics.
Most picnics sell burgoo by the cup, gallon or you can get full meals. Naturally most of them are located in Owensboro. Western Kentucky has a large number of sheep farms which keep the supply and price relatively reasonable. The mutton is often in the form of a sandwich, either sliced or finely chopped. Mutton sandwiches are best topped with dill pickle and onion slices.