Owensboro’s signature barbecue festival is back — with expanded bourbon experiences, free concerts, barbecue competitions, craft vendors, carnival rides, and two full days of downtown entertainment. Here’s what to know.
Formerly known as the International Bar-B-Q Festival, BBQ & Barrels returns Friday-Saturday, bringing together 45 years of Owensboro tradition with Kentucky bourbon culture in one of the city’s biggest annual events.
The festival stretches across downtown Owensboro and Smothers Park, featuring live music on multiple stages, church cooking teams, bourbon tastings and classes, an artisan craft expo, carnival rides, food vendors, and a growing list of bourbon experiences.
Here’s a complete guide to the 2026 festival.
Festival hours
Friday, May 8
Noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where it’s happening
The festival footprint covers much of downtown Owensboro, centered around the Owensboro Convention Center, Smothers Park, and the Daviess County Courthouse lawn.
Major activity areas include:
- Main Stage at the convention center front lawn
- Courthouse Stage
- Smothers Park
- Church cooking team area
- Bourbon tasting and bourbon classes
- Artisan Craft Expo inside the Owensboro Convention Center
- Carnival area
- Food truck and vendor areas
Main stage entertainment
The Owensboro Racing & Gaming Main Stage will host free concerts both nights.
Friday, May 8
6 p.m. — DJ Shay’s Dance Party with Musick Studios
Saturday, May 9
6 p.m. — Chase Matthew
Special guests include Cam Thompson, Hayley Payne, and DJ George Rose.
Courthouse stage lineup
Friday, May 8
- 3 p.m. — Jerrett Davis & Chris Abell
- 4:30 p.m. — Rack ’Em Leon
- 6:30 p.m. — OCTC Capital Bluegrass Band
Saturday, May 9
- Noon — OHS Red Steel
- 1:45 p.m. — Galactic Foghorn
- 3:45 p.m. — The E.O. Kids
- 5:45 p.m. — Krown
Bourbon experiences continue to grow
One of the festival’s fastest-growing attractions is its bourbon programming, led by Visit Owensboro and sponsored by Baird Private Wealth Management.
Festival officials say the bourbon component is quickly becoming one of Kentucky’s premier bourbon events.
Grand bourbon tasting
The grand tasting event takes place Saturday, May 9.
VIP admission begins at 3 p.m.
General admission begins at 4 p.m.
VIP tickets are $120 and include specialty pours and barbecue samples.
General admission tickets are $70.
Companion tickets without bourbon sampling are available for $20.
Major distilleries from across Kentucky are expected to participate.
Bourbon classes
Three bourbon education classes will be offered on Saturday inside the Owensboro Convention Center.
Classes are $25 each and have limited seating.
One featured session includes “Fred Noe Live: Bourbon & Stories,” featuring the seventh-generation Jim Beam master distiller.
Artisan Craft Expo debuts indoors
New this year is the Artisan Craft Expo, which moves into the climate-controlled exhibit halls of the Owensboro Convention Center.
The expo will feature handcrafted goods, artisan vendors, and specialty food products.
Festival officials said the expanded indoor setup is designed to create a more comfortable shopping experience while broadening the variety of vendors.
Church cooking teams remain a festival staple
The church cooking teams continue to serve as one of the festival’s signature attractions.
Teams will again line downtown streets with the familiar sights and smells of mutton, pork, chicken, and burgoo cooked over open pits.
Backyard Cookoff activities are also scheduled on both days.
Saturday’s Backyard Cookoff awards ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the Main Stage.
Carnival rides and family activities
Carnival rides will operate both days near the RiverPark Center side of the festival footprint.
Carnival hours:
Friday — beginning at 5 p.m.
Saturday — beginning at noon
Smothers Park and downtown activity zones will also include family-friendly attractions throughout the weekend.
50/50 raffle underway
The BBQ & Barrels 50/50 raffle is already live online, with the jackpot continuing to grow leading into the festival weekend.
Organizers added early bird bourbon prize drawings this year featuring bottles from several distilleries, including:
- Heaven Hill
- Buffalo Trace
- Jefferson’s
- Western Kentucky Distilling Co.
- Green River Distillery
- O.H. Ingram Distillery
A Hampton Inn Owensboro Riverfront stay package was also included among early prizes.
Festival schedule at a glance
Friday, May 8
- Noon — Festival opens
- Noon — Artisan Craft Expo opens
- 3 p.m. — Music begins at Courthouse Stage
- 5 p.m. — Carnival opens
- 6 p.m. — Main Stage entertainment begins
- 7 p.m. — Artisan Craft Expo closes
- 10 p.m. — Festival closes
Saturday, May 9
- 8 a.m. — BBQ 5K begins
- 10 a.m. — Festival opens
- Noon — Music begins at Courthouse Stage
- Noon — Carnival opens
- 2 p.m. — Bourbon classes begin
- 3 p.m. — VIP bourbon tasting begins
- 4 p.m. — General bourbon tasting begins
- 6 p.m. — Main Stage concert begins
- 7 p.m. — Artisan Craft Expo closes
- 10 p.m. — Festival closes
Street closures and parking information
Festival setup begins Thursday, May 7.
Closures beginning Thursday at 7 a.m.:
- East Second Street from Clay Street to Daviess Street
Additional closures beginning Friday at 6 a.m.:
- East Second Street from Daviess Street to Walnut Street
- Allen, St. Ann, Frederica, St. Elizabeth, and Locust streets from Third Street to Veterans Boulevard
- Cedar Street from Third Street to Second Street (hotel access only)
- Veterans Boulevard from Daviess Street to Locust Street
Festival officials also announced Daviess Street will close to vehicle traffic during event hours for safety purposes.
Because of that closure, the Daviess Street Parking Garage will close to all vehicle entry and exit:
- Friday at 5 p.m.
- Saturday at noon
Officials are encouraging visitors parked in the garage to move vehicles before those times.
All streets are expected to reopen Sunday at 7 a.m.
