A barbecue festival is what dreams are made of. Check out this guide to learn about the best BBQ festivals in the world.
Barbecue has been an integral part of American culture ever since 1733.
However, good ol’ BBQ has existed throughout history. Accounts of BBQ munching has been reported throughout other countries and regions such as the Caribbean and even dates back to the Stonehenge construction.
What does this mean? No matter where you are in the world, there’s a BBQ festival somewhere.
BBQ festivals are the epitome of awesome. You can spend the whole day chowing down on some finger-licking BBQ.
Are you ready to travel in the name of barbecue? If you’re looking for a new barbecue festival, here are the best the world has to offer.
Table of Contents
Red, White, and Brews
Red, White, and Brews is the true American celebration. Located in Santa Clara, California, this festival combines the best of BBQ, beer, and everything else that’s fun.
Along with the best BBQ and locally-sourced beer, the festival offers many activities for the whole family. This includes an amusement park, live music, and even a fireworks show.
But the 21 and up crowd have more fun opportunities. Hop on a beer bike and take a tour of the Hometown Square while sipping some craft beer.
Red, White, and Brews is held at the Hometown Square during the weekends of mid- and late-June.
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
There is no barbecue competition more prestigious than Memphis’ World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. This is a four-day competition held at Tom Lee Park.
You can gaze at the Mississippi River and watch the competition unfold.
250 teams from around the world gather and compete to win $115,000.
Want to test your barbecue cooking skills but aren’t exactly an expert? Compete in the Patio Porkers competition. This is the amateur competition where you can test your barbecue skills amongst the experts.
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is typically held around mid-May.
Colorado BBQ Challenge
Colorado’s BBQ Challenge is the oldest BBQ cook-off in the state. The best BBQ chefs throughout Colorado gather at Frisco to cook the best BBQ for all attendees. The event takes place at Frisco’s Main Street.
As well as eating some seriously delicious barbecue, attendees can listen to live music, watch pig races, witness a firefighter cook-off, watch chef demos, run the Bacon Burner 6k, and take the Breckenridge Distillery Whiskey Tour.
Admission to the event is free and occurs during Father’s Day weekend. The event raises more than $50,000 annually and the proceeds go toward a variety of nonprofits.
Brew & BBQ
It’s a hootenanny! Brew & BBQ at Cedar Point combines the best open-flame BBQ with family-friendly fun. This festival has only been occurring for a few years but that means it only gets more innovative each year.
That same year, they also welcomed Food Channel’s Damaris Phillips who cooked up buttermilk barbecue pie and beer mac n’ cheese.
For example, in 2018, the festival unveiled its own custom beer.
In addition, the festival offers 100 craft beers from around the country. Of course, they offer the best barbecue in the Midwest! The festival boasts four types of barbecue to make sure you get your fix.
The festival runs throughout the month of June. Ticket prices vary, depending on how many days you attend and if you’re purchasing special events. These prices range between $25 and $92.
Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup
If you’re based in Iowa, you’ll be crazy to not attend the Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup!
This event brings together the best BBQ chefs from around the country to compete in various categories. These categories include Best Pork BBQ, Best BBQ Ribs, and even a People’s Choice.
You’ll also see the best Cedar Rapids bands perform and the event hosts other family-friendly activities.
Flights & Bites
The east coast has some serious BBQ events, too! Flights & Bites is in Charlotte, NC. And for anyone who knows craft beer, you’ll know North Carolina is the place to go for beer.
This festival offers more than just a BBQ and beer frenzy.
You’ll try the best local beers that are paired with Carowinds’ barbecue samples. The whole event is hosted by a Sycamore Brewing brewmaster, so you know you’ll also receive some beer education.
This event occurs on one day, usually in June.
I Love Barbecue Festival
If you’re based in the Lake Placid, New York, area, there’s no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than by eating up some tasty barbecue!
The Kansas City Barbecue Society hosts the awesome I Love Barbecue Festival barbecue competition as well as offering live music and a motorcycle parade.
This festival occurs the week of the Fourth of July.
Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
What American barbecue matters more than the barbecue battle hosted at our nation’s capital? No other battle, right?
If you want to celebrate the U.S. while eating some expertly-made barbecue, there’s no other place to attend than the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle.
Because nothing tastes more American than sweet, smoked, spicy, and hickory barbecue!
This event has been occurring for over 25 years and attracts tens of thousands of people. In addition to getting some incredible barbecue, you can watch bands perform and look upon the historic sites of our nation’s capital.
This event also celebrates the beginning of summer and occurs near the end of June.
Windy City Smokeout
Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizza. But during the Windy City Smokeout, they’re known for the barbecue!
This event attracts the best BBQers from around the country. Some past attendees include Pappy’s Smokehouse from St. Louis and The Salt Lick from Texas.
And if you’re a fan of country music, then you’re in for a treat. This festival features performances from award-winning and famous country music stars. Past headliners include Old Dominion, Chris Young, and Cole Swindell.
Wausau Balloon and Rib Fest
What’s the best thing to pair with your barbecue? Balloons aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But Wausau’s Balloon and Rib Fest make these two unexpected companions work in perfect harmony.
The best BBQers in Wisconsin gather for an event your kids won’t get enough of! There are bounce houses and even a hot air balloon. Your kids will also love kite flying, a petting zoo, and even the largest fireworks show in the area.
Harpoon BBQ Festival
If you love BBQ, beer, and time spent with friends, then you’ll love Vermont’s Harpoon BBQ Festival.
The event is held of Harpoon Riverbend Taps & Beer Garden. You can drink Harpoon Brewery’s amazing brews while eating barbecue from the best chefs in New England.
This festival also offers a benefit for the competitors. The Grand Champion is able to compete in Jack Daniel’s Invitational Barbecue!
Brew & BBQ (Ontario)
Not to be confused with the Brew & BBQ in Ohio, Canada is starting to offer some serious barbecue festivals with their own Brew & BBQ Festival. This Ontario festival combines the best of local breweries and cideries as well as BBQ from chef Dilup Attygalla.
The event takes place at Canada’s Wonderland, which is one of Canada’s most famous amusement parks.
Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival
Pigs & Peaches Festival is proof that a small gathering can turn into a huge occasion!
This festival originally started as a small blues concert and amateur grillers would come in and BBQ for the crowd. Today, Pigs & Peaches is a two-day festival and a BBQ competition.
You can watch some of the best bands, eat world-class BBQ, and engage in other family-friend activities.
Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival is held in Kennesaw, GA and occurs during the end of August.
BBQ Music Fest
What pairs the best with BBQ? Good music, of course! That’s what BBQ Music Fest in Fountain Valley, CA offers. You can eat all types of barbecue with various bands and plenty of live music for the music lover.
There’s not one type of barbecue you can’t find at this festival! Whether you want to indulge in ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, or barbecue chicken, you can find it all here.
All food is cooked fresh; the whole festival is filled with the aroma of wood and smoked meat.
As well as music and food, the festival also offers a plethora of other activities. This includes a reptile exhibit, karaoke, and even magicians.
Meatopia
The savory and smokey barbecue flavors finally made its way across the pond!
London offers Meatopia, a festival dedicated to cooking only ethically sourced meat and features world-famous chefs. The event was founded in the U.S. by Josh Ozersky and it was brought to the U.K. by chef Richard H Turner.
The event also features recognizable beer brands, such as Sierra Nevada.
Get Your BBQ Fix at a Barbecue Festival!
No matter where you’re at in the world, there’s a barbecue festival near you! But only a select few should be considered the best in the world. From America’s west coast to London, all barbecue lovers should experience these festivals!
Want to try your stab at making some expert BBQ and attempt to compete at these festivals? Here are some BBQ recipes you can try perfecting!
Ashley Bird
19 Apr 2020Wow, that’s quite a statement “the best BBQ festivals in the world” according to who, firstly your list seems to be USA bias a yet you say it’s for the best festival in the world. In the UK you list Meatopia, which is a great festival. But it is a very niche BBQ Festival. You could have also mentioned Brew and Q, the Big Grill or even ourselves the Smoke & Fire Festival that had over 18.5K visitors last year and is the largest BBQ festival in the UK by far. Maybe next year we might just get a mention, or maybe we won’t, but please be factual if you going to say the best in the world there are a lot more great BBQ festivals going on in the UK /Europe than just Meatopia 🙂