Check out 10 of the Best BBQ Festivals in the U.S.
January 4th 2025
Barbecue competitions and festivals have become a cornerstone of American food culture, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to events across the country. The largest and most prestigious competition, The American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City, attracts over 500 teams competing in categories like brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and ribs. These events are sanctioned by organizations like the Kansas City Barbeque Society, which maintains standardized rules and trains certified judges to evaluate entries based on appearance, taste, and tenderness.
Beyond the competition circuit, local BBQ festivals combine cooking contests with live music, vendor markets, and demonstrations from pit masters sharing their techniques. Festival attendees often have the chance to sample regional BBQ styles, from the vinegar-based sauces of North Carolina to the dry rubs of Memphis and the beef-focused traditions of Texas. Let's take a look at some of the best!
1. American Royal World Series of Barbecue (Kansas City, MO, September)
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Each fall, this Kansas City barbecue competition draws over 500 teams from around the globe to compete in multiple categories including chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket. The Kansas Speedway transforms into a smoky paradise where seasoned pitmasters showcase their grilling expertise and secret recipes passed down through generations. Notable competitors like Tuffy Stone, Myron Mixon, and Chris Lilly have demonstrated their skills at this prestigious event which typically welcomes more than 50,000 attendees over four days. Visitors can sample award-winning barbecue while enjoying live performances from local country and blues bands on multiple stages throughout the venue.
The festival features over 100 vendors selling barbecue-related products, sauces, rubs, grilling equipment, and local craft beers from Boulevard Brewing Company and other regional breweries. A dedicated kids' zone offers face painting, carnival games, and interactive cooking demonstrations designed to inspire young barbecue enthusiasts. Special features include pit tours where attendees can meet champion pitmasters, learn competition secrets, and watch cooking demonstrations using various smoking techniques and woods. The event culminates in the Grand Champion ceremony where winners receive substantial cash prizes and the coveted title of Grand Champion of the American Royal World Series of Barbecue.
2. World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (Memphis, TN, April)
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This premiere barbecue competition attracts over 200 teams to compete for coveted titles and significant prize money in Memphis, Tennessee. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, a cornerstone event of Memphis in May, transforms Tom Lee Park along the Mississippi River into a sprawling celebration of smoke and flavor. Teams from across the globe showcase their mastery in key categories including whole hog, pork ribs, and pork shoulder, with many offering unique side dishes and sauces. The three-day festival welcomes approximately 75,000 attendees who can sample competition-grade barbecue while enjoying live blues and rock performances on multiple stages throughout the venue.
Legendary pit masters like Myron Mixon, Chris Lilly, and the Big Bob Gibson team regularly compete alongside passionate amateur teams in elaborate cooking setups that range from simple smokers to custom-built mobile kitchens. The festival features a VIP experience called the Kingsford Tour of Champions, where guests can meet competing teams and taste their competition entries before judging. Beyond the main competition, visitors can explore the BBQ Alley where local restaurants serve Memphis-style barbecue specialties, and the Cooker Caravan offers guided tours of select team setups. Special features include the Ms. Piggie Idol Contest where team members dress in pig-themed costumes and perform musical numbers, and Kids' Korner with family-friendly activities and barbecue education sessions.
3. Windy City Smokeout (Chicago, IL, July)
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Thousands of hungry food lovers gather among aromatic clouds of wood smoke at Chicago's United Center parking lot each summer. The Windy City Smokeout brings together more than 30 of America's top pitmasters and BBQ joints, including Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ, Memphis' Central BBQ, and Texas legends like Kreuz Market. Attendees can sample regional BBQ styles from pulled pork and beef brisket to Memphis-style ribs and Texas hot links, paired with an extensive selection of craft beers from over 40 breweries. Past musical headliners have included country stars like Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, and Darius Rucker performing across multiple stages throughout the weekend.
The festival features hands-on BBQ workshops where guests can learn smoking techniques directly from champion pitmasters, plus late-night events and special bourbon tastings. A dedicated "BBQ Alley" showcases up-and-coming pitmasters and unique regional specialties not typically found in Chicago. Local Chicago favorites like Lillie's Q and Smoque BBQ join forces with visiting pitmasters to create exclusive festival collaborations. The event's Beer Hall hosts special releases and meet-and-greets with master brewers, while themed areas like the Whiskey Bar and Gaming Lawn offer additional entertainment options.
4. The Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Lynchburg, TN, October)
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Barbecue enthusiasts from around the globe gather in the heart of Tennessee each year for one of the most prestigious smoking competitions in the world. The festival unfolds on the historic Lynchburg town square, drawing over 30,000 visitors and 80 competition teams to showcase their mastery of smoke and fire. Professional competitors serve up perfectly charred ribs, tender brisket, succulent pulled pork, and signature sauces that complement the famous Tennessee whiskey produced just steps away at the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Live bluegrass and country music fills the air from local artists performing on the main stage, while the sweet aroma of hickory smoke drifts through the streets.
This 2 day event features cooking demonstrations, a sauce competition, and the coveted title of Grand Champion, which comes with significant prize money and worldwide recognition in the barbecue community. Competitors must win a state championship or similar qualifying event to receive an invitation to this elite competition, making it one of the most selective barbecue events in existence. Visitors can sample competition-style barbecue while enjoying specialty cocktails crafted with Jack Daniel's whiskey, along with traditional Southern sides like cornbread, coleslaw, and banana pudding. The festival's unique tradition includes presenting each category winner with a customized Jack Daniel's barrel head trophy, while the Grand Champion takes home a hand-crafted barrel trophy filled with premium bottles of whiskey.
5. Nugget Best in the West Rib Cook-Off (Sparks, NV, August)
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One of America's premier rib competitions draws barbecue masters from across North America to Victorian Square in downtown Sparks, Nevada. Twenty-four world-class BBQ teams compete for top honors and over $19,000 in prize money at this Labor Day tradition, which has been sponsored by the Nugget Casino Resort since 1989. Between 350,000 and 400,000 BBQ enthusiasts sample more than 250,000 pounds of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and chicken while enjoying cold craft beers and specialty cocktails during this 6 day event. Notable past champions include Texas Outlaw BBQ, Desperado's BBQ, Back Forty Texas BBQ, and Famous Dave's, who showcase their secret sauces and smoking techniques.
Live entertainment features both national touring acts and regional favorites performing on multiple stages throughout the downtown corridor. A dedicated kids' zone offers face painting, carnival games, and interactive activities for families. Local artisans and vendors sell unique crafts, BBQ accessories, and specialty food items in between the smoking grills and bustling beer gardens. The event culminates with a prestigious awards ceremony where judges evaluate ribs on taste, tenderness, and appearance to crown the coveted "Best in the West" champion.
6. Lexington BBQ Festival (Lexington, NC, October)
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One of North Carolina's premier barbecue celebrations draws over 150,000 visitors to uptown Lexington for the state's longest-running food festival. The event showcases pit masters from all over the country serving their famous Lexington-style chopped pork shoulder, smoked low and slow over oak or hickory coals. Main Street transforms into a bustling corridor filled with craft vendors, live bluegrass performances, and the unmistakable aroma of wood smoke and barbecue. Local favorites like The Bar-B-Q Center, Lexington BBQ, and Speedy's BBQ serve their signature red slaw, made with ketchup instead of mayonnaise, alongside classic sides like hush puppies and sweet tea.
Beyond barbecue, visitors enjoy carnival rides, arts and crafts from over 250 regional artisans, and a classic car show featuring hundreds of vintage vehicles. The festival includes a cycling event called the Tour de Pig, where riders can work up an appetite on routes ranging from 20 to 50 miles through Davidson County's scenic countryside. Teams compete in the popular Barbecue Cook-Off, where judges evaluate entries based on taste, appearance, and authenticity to determine the grand champion pitmaster. Local breweries like Goose and the Monkey Brewhouse offer craft beer selections to complement the smoky flavors of Lexington's celebrated barbecue tradition.
7. Holy Smokes Lowcountry Barbecue Festival (North Charleston, SC, November)
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A true showcase of authentic Carolina barbecue tradition brings pit masters and food enthusiasts together on the sprawling grounds of Riverfront Park in North Charleston. The Holy Smokes Lowcountry Barbecue Festival features 50 distinguished pit masters from across the region, including acclaimed spots like Lewis Barbecue, Home Team BBQ, and Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ. Visitors can savor an impressive range of barbecue styles including slow-smoked whole hog, pork and beef ribs, Texas-style brisket, alongside uniquely Lowcountry offerings of smoked and grilled seafood specialties.
Beyond the smoky offerings, the festival hosts local craft breweries pouring seasonal selections, while distilleries offer bourbon tastings that perfectly complement the barbecue. Live music sets the mood with performances by local bluegrass bands and regional country artists throughout the weekend on multiple stages. The family-friendly event typically draws over 5,000 attendees who can participate in cooking demonstrations, barbecue competitions, and witness master pitmasters sharing traditional whole-hog cooking techniques passed down through generations while preparing full pigs using methods specific to the Lowcountry region.
8. Syndicate Smokedown BBQ Competition (Fort Worth, TX, April)
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This Fort Worth festival showcases Texas-style barbecue with tender brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and perfectly smoked chicken competing for top honors. Over 45 pit masters gather at the Fort Worth Stockyards to demonstrate their smoking expertise while vying for cash prizes and bragging rights in multiple categories. The event draws approximately 8,000 barbecue enthusiasts who sample offerings from vendors like Heim BBQ, Goldee's, and Dayne's Craft BBQ, while enjoying local craft beers from Wild Acre Brewing and HopFusion Ale Works. Live music keeps the energy high throughout the day with performances by Texas country artists including the Josh Abbott Band and Wade Bowen.
Festival-goers can participate in hands-on grilling demonstrations, sauce-making workshops, and meat preparation classes led by championship pit masters. A dedicated kids' zone features face painting, a petting zoo, and junior pit master activities, making this a family-friendly affair. Special features include the People's Choice competition where attendees vote for their favorite barbecue, plus a marketplace selling everything from custom smokers to artisanal rubs and sauces. The VIP experience includes early entry, exclusive tastings, and meet-and-greets with celebrity pit masters in cool air-conditioned lounges.
9. Giant Barbecue Battle (Washington, DC, June)
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As smoke wafts through downtown Washington DC's historic streets, pit masters showcase their culinary talents at one of America's largest barbecue festivals. The Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle draws over 100,000 visitors annually, featuring more than 75 food vendors serving up diverse regional barbecue styles from Kansas City to Memphis. Notable pit masters include Myron Mixon, Tuffy Stone, and the teams from Hill Country BBQ Market and DCity Smokehouse, who compete for cash prizes and bragging rights in multiple categories. Attendees can sample everything from traditional pulled pork and beef brisket to unique offerings like smoked alligator and barbecue egg rolls, paired with craft beers and specialty cocktails.
Live music performances in past years have included national acts like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Chuck Brown, and Experience Unlimited (EU). The festival spans several city blocks and includes interactive cooking demonstrations, the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifying round, and hands-on grilling workshops. Kids can enjoy the Giant Chill Zone with games and activities, while BBQ enthusiasts explore the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill - the world's largest touring grill. Military chefs from different branches compete in the Military Chef Competition, adding a patriotic element to this summer celebration in the nation's capital.
10. Beer, Bourbon & BBQ (Atlanta, GA, February)
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One of the South's most anticipated spring gatherings brings together craft beer enthusiasts, bourbon aficionados, and barbecue lovers at Atlantic Station in Atlanta. The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival features over 60 different beers and 40 bourbons available for unlimited sampling throughout the event. Notable vendors include Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, Sweet Auburn BBQ, and DAS BBQ serving up their signature smoked meats and traditional sides. The festival typically draws around 5,000 attendees who enjoy live blues and rock music from local Atlanta bands on the main stage.
Guests receive a souvenir sampling glass to taste their way through an impressive selection of craft beers from breweries like Monday Night Brewing, Sweetwater, and Wild Heaven Beer. The bourbon selection includes offerings from major distilleries such as Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and Four Roses, with master distillers often conducting tasting seminars. A unique feature of the festival is the Bacon Eating Contest, where contestants compete to see who can eat the most bacon in three minutes. The event also includes whole hog demonstrations by pit masters, bourbon-making exhibitions, and a marketplace featuring local artisans selling barbecue-related products and accessories.
Check to see what BBQ Festivals are held in your city.