Cahaba Fish Fry Competition

COMPETE

Benefiting Cahaba River Society

Competing in Frydown 2025

Think you’ve got what it takes to be crowned Frydown Champion? Gather your team and put your best catfish recipe to the test at Cahaba River Frydown 2025! This isn’t just any fish fry—it’s Birmingham’s most exciting cooking competition, where top-notch teams battle for bragging rights and coveted awards. Join the fun, serve up your signature dish, and be part of a community celebration that supports the Cahaba River.

Team applications open May 1!

Don’t miss your chance to compete!

Corporate Teams - $550

Entry to participate as an in-person Fry team (8 members)
Provided one (10x10) Tent and one 6’ table
Your team will be recognized on the Frydown website (with links to your company’s website) and in post-event media
You will be able to use event branding in your company’s advertising (content subject to approval by the Cahaba River Society)

Community Teams - $375

Entry to participate as an in-person Fry team (8 members).
Your team will be recognized on the Frydown website (with links to your website) and in post-event media
You will be able to use event branding in your company’s advertising (content subject to approval by the Cahaba River Society)

Awards

Competing Fry Teams at the Cahaba River Frydown will have their entries scored by a team of high-profile celebrity judges for the chance to win in several categories. Each attendee will be given a gold doubloon that can be used to cast a vote for the Crowd Favorite, and the team that receives the most votes will win this ultimate prize.

Crowd Favorite
Frydown attendees will have the pleasure of sampling fry team flavors! One doubloon will be given to each guest. Invite lots of friends to attend the event = more votes for you! The team that acquires the most doubloons will be the “Crowd Favorite.”

Best Side Dish
Every amazing hero needs an awesome sidekick! This award is given to the team with the best side dish.

Fish with an Attitude
The Fish with an Attitude Award goes to our most creative team. Give us more than a boiled shrimp cocktail on ice with a cup of cocktail sauce made from ketchup and horseradish. Get creative! Do something that tells us who you are and what a community fish fry means to your team.

Best Dressed
This award includes everything about your team – your team name, secret weapon, team “uniforms,” hats, and the presentation of your plated food to the judges. Go all out! Efforts toward this category can also help make you a Crowd Favorite!

The Happy Shiner
Southern Hospitality is our trademark. Shine that congenial smile and show them you’re the host with the most!

Champion of the Cahaba
This award goes to the team that rises to the challenge and helps support our work by raising financial support by encouraging friends, family, and community to support their team at frydown.com/donate. Be sure to tell your supporters to select your team when they donate! The team that raises the most money by 1 pm on October 5, 2025 wins this coveted award! Set a goal and reach for the stars!

Baddest Fish in the River

The Baddest Fish in the River award is our best overall award. It is awarded to the best combination of presentation and flavor. You need to look good and taste good!