Cooked low and slow, celebrated loud and proud – here are some of the best barbecue festivals bringing people together in the most delicious ways, across the USA.
As the USA grew westward from its East Coast beginnings, so did the tradition of barbecue – evolving from backyard gatherings into full-blown regional rituals and award-winning eateries. The first official barbecue cook-off was held in Hawaiʻi at the Kaiser Foil Cook-Off in 1959. Today, hundreds of events across the USA celebrate this beloved culinary tradition, from small-town cook-offs to massive festivals filled with music, competition and plenty of ribs. If you’re craving the full flavor of barbecue culture in the USA, these six standout festivals are worth adding to your next visit.
Each October, Lynchburg, Tennessee, hosts this prestigious barbecue showdown, drawing nearly 100 championship teams who smoke over 1,700 kilograms of meat in just 24 hours. They compete for top honors across seven categories – chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder/butt, beef brisket, dessert, cook’s choice and Jack Daniel’s sauce. Around 25,000 fans flock to the event for more than just the competition: live music, grilling demos, (pork) butt bowling, a petting zoo and the quirky Country Dog Contest. Grab your own plate of barbecue and tour the nearby Jack Daniel’s distillery for a taste of true Tennessee tradition.
When November rolls around, Lockhart – the “barbecue capital of Texas” – turns up the heat for the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest. More than 30 of the state’s best pitmasters gather to serve up mouthwatering samples of ribs, brisket, spicy sausage and more smoky delights that Texans can’t get enough of. Festivalgoers can enjoy live country and blues music, cold craft beers from local breweries and family-friendly activities that add to the vibrant atmosphere.
Spanning from February to September, the Beer, Bourbon and Barbecue Festival brings smoky flavors and spirited sips to 10 cities across six states including Charlotte, North Carolina; Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia. Festival tickets include a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited samples of local craft beers and fine bourbons. Dive into tasting sessions led by expert pitmasters, brewmasters and distillers, or savor pulled pork at the famed “Shrine of Swine.” With brisket, ribs and pulled pork on the menu, this traveling festival offers a delicious way to experience some of the South’s most iconic cities.
Each May, the scent of smoke fills the air in Owensboro, Kentucky, as the International Bar-B-Q Festival kicks off its long-running celebration of flavor and community. Held annually since 1979 on the second weekend in May, the event features a barbecue battle for the coveted Governor’s Cup, where cooking teams compete while hungry crowds enjoy samples of barbecued meats. Beyond the pits, visitors can enjoy a carnival, explore arts and crafts, and watch locals cook up burgoo – a hearty Kentucky stew with a variety of vegetables and at least three types of meat traditionally prepared in big outdoor kettles.
Barbecue takes over the nation’s capital each June as the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle brings the smoke to Washington, D.C. Each June, Pennsylvania Avenue transforms into a grill-lined playground where pitmasters from across the USA serve up saucy, smoky perfection in a fierce competition. Between bites, catch cooking demos from celebrity chefs, sip craft drinks, groove to live music and soak in the views of iconic monuments just steps away.
In Henderson, Kentucky, folks like to say that blues music was born on the banks of the Ohio River – and every June, that legacy lives on through the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, named for the “Father of the Blues” himself. It’s one of the biggest free music festivals in the country, yet it still feels like a neighborhood gathering. Visitors come for the raw, soulful music and stay for the stories, the smiles and the food. The festival opens with the Taste of Henderson Barbecue, where local pitmasters serve up smoky mutton, tender ribs, savory pork and chicken – inviting everyone to sample the rich, slow-cooked flavors that define this river town’s barbecue tradition.
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