Learn about the Grandview “ox” roast that’s rumored to be 100 years old

According to Bob Rutter, nobody really knows how long Grandview’s iconic Ox Roast has been around for. 

“Some say at least the Second World War. Others say earlier; a good bit earlier,” Rutter said. “And there’s a good bit of evidence that suggests this.”

Even though the exact dates of the longtime celebration might be a little hazy, 2021 is being celebrated as the 100th annual Bobcat Boosters Ox Roast.

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And we’re all for it.

“Either way, the roast has been a special part of Grandview for very long time,” Rutter said.

A fundraiser for area students put on by the long-standing Bobcat Boosters, the three-day event—which will be held Sept. 9-11 at Pierce Field (1080 W. 1st Ave. in Grandview)—the historic event serves as both an under-appreciated snapshot of local history and a really good time.

The roast will feature a handful of kid-friendly carnival rides and a slate of festival games, but it’s the food that draws so many in each year.

And here’s where we’re going to come clean with you. It’s not actually an ox that’s being served. The phrase “ox roast” refers to juicy, slow-cooked beef, and that’s exactly what’s on the menu at the annual Grandview event.

And it’s a whole lot to beef we’re talking about.

“We roast between 1,600 and 2,000 pounds every year,” Rutter said.

But it’s not quantity that makes this beef so special. The meat is slow-roasted using a unique cooking method that sees it wrapped in butcher paper and muslin and placed directly onto  bed of coals covered with sand.

A lighting ceremony—where the cooking fire used to churn out nearly one ton of slow-roasted beef is ignited by festival-goers—formally kicks off the Ox Roast on its first night.

The event itself is free to attend. Food, drinks, and ride vouchers can be purchased on-site, and all the proceeds are going to a good cause. 

So why not etch yourself into a small chapter of Grandview history, and enjoy some really good food in the meantime?

If you like this, read: See where Columbus placed in a ranking of top U.S. BBQ cities

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