The smell of smoked meats will soon fill downtown Owensboro as teams fire up the pits for BBQ & Barrels, returning May 9-10 with two days of barbecue, bourbon tastings, live music, and family-friendly fun in the heart of the city. Here’s your complete guide to navigating this weekend’s event, from barbecue vendors and carnival info to music options and street closures.
🗓 EVENT OVERVIEW
Dates: May 9-10
Location: Downtown Owensboro (centered around 2nd Street)
Admission: Free to attend; food and bourbon experience require purchase
FULL BBQ VENDOR LINEUP
At the heart of BBQ & Barrels is, of course, the barbecue. More than 20 food vendors will line the streets offering a meat-lover’s paradise of smoked, pulled, slathered, and stacked options. Thanks to the new BBQ Blueprint, visitors can preview what each vendor is serving this year.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll find sizzling on the streets:
Bare Butt BBQ Inc. – Redneck Sundae
A wild layered bowl of baked beans, mashed potatoes, garlic green beans, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and toasted bread crumbs (brisket upgrade available).
The Brew Bridge – Brisket Sandwich
House-smoked sliced brisket with pickles, red onion, slaw, and Ancho BBQ sauce on a bun.
C & W BBQ – Extreme Ribbon Fries
Ribbon fries smothered in pulled pork, nacho cheese, BBQ sauce, sour cream, and green onions.
Crowes Nest – Bourbon Barbecue Sloppy Bites
Crispy chicken bites tossed in bourbon BBQ sauce and served with ranch.
Firehouse 29 BBQ & More – Loaded Potato Twisters
Spiral-cut fried potatoes topped with pork, cheese, salsa, yellow and hot peppers, and sour cream.
Four Pegs Smokehouse – Pork Belly on a Stick
Slabs of pork belly drizzled with sweet smoky sauce, dry rub, and topped with green onions.
Grumpa’s BBQ & More – Loaded BBQ Nachos
A mound of nacho cheese, pulled pork, BBQ sauce, sour cream, and jalapeños.
Hillbilly’s BBQ – Stuffed Baked Potato
A giant baked potato with butter, nacho cheese, BBQ sauce, and green onions. Choose pulled pork, smoked chicken, or chopped brisket.
J’s Good Grub – Bourbon Bacon Cajun Ranch Chicken Fries
Fries topped with Cajun-seasoned chicken, smoky bacon bits, creamy ranch, and a sweet bourbon glaze.
Juicy Butts BBQ – The Big Juicy
A hearty combo of brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and two sides.
Mac Madness – Pig Pen Mac
Mac and cheese piled high with brisket, baked beans, slaw, bacon, BBQ sauce, and crispy onions.
Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn – Chopped Mutton Sandwich & Burgoo
A Kentucky classic: tender, hickory-smoked chopped mutton with Moonlite’s signature vinegar dip, best paired with a hot cup of burgoo.
Old Hickory BBQ – Chopped Mutton Sandwich
Smoky mutton layered with pickled onions, seasoned to perfection, and served on a bun.
On Time BBQ – Sandwich Combo
Your pick of brisket, pulled pork, or mutton sandwich with two sides.
Owensboro Post 9 American Legion Baseball – Smokehouse Nachos
Tortilla chips loaded with pulled pork, cheese, BBQ sauce, and your choice of toppings.
Piggin Out – Filthy Sausage
A grilled smoked sausage on a bun loaded with pulled pork, grilled peppers and onions, and BBQ sauce.
Primal Craft Dogz – BBQ Dog
A quarter-pound beef hot dog on a toasted bun with baked beans, slaw, fried onions, and BBQ sauce.
🔥 BACKYARD COOK-OFF
Amateur BBQ masters will compete in the popular Backyard Cook-Off, now located along Locust and Cedar streets between West 2nd and West 3rd Street. Organizers want to make sure attendees know the cook-off hasn’t disappeared — it’s just shifted locations.
⛪ CHURCH COOKING TEAMS
Owensboro’s church cooking crews are a longstanding staple of the event, and this year five teams will be dishing out their iconic recipes:
- Blessed Mother
- Immaculate
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- St. Mary of the Woods
- Precious Blood
🥃 THE BARRELS
The bourbon experience returns Saturday at the Owensboro Convention Center, featuring dozens of distilleries, curated tastings, and educational sessions. Whether you’re a bourbon connoisseur or just getting started, the event caters to all levels of bourbon interests. Tickets are required and can be purchased through the event website here, where more information about the tasting can also be found.
🎶 LIVE MUSIC
There will be live music throughout the weekend. Here’s a look at who you can catch:
- Owensboro Racing and Gaming Main Stage on the Convention Center front lawn:
- Friday: Local favorite Resurrection – A Journey Tribute
- Saturday: Multi-platinum country artist Clay Walker headlines, with special guest Drew Baldridge
- Courthouse Lawn stage:
- Friday
- 3–4:15: The Lowland Ramblers
- 4:30-6: Rack’em Leon
- 6:30-8: OCTC Capital Bluegrass Band
- Saturday
- 12-1:15: OHS Red Steel
- 1:30-3:30: Scarlett Call Duo
- 3:30-5: No Limits
- 5:30-7: Krown
- Friday
🎡 ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
BBQ & Barrels isn’t just about barbecue and bourbon — it offers a variety of activities for attendees of all ages.
🏃♂️ BBQ 5K
Start your Saturday with the Owensboro Family YMCA’s Annual Fundraiser Fun Run. Proceeds benefit the YMCA’s scholarship programs. Register here.
🎨 Arts & Crafts
Browse unique, handcrafted items from local artisans as you stroll through the festival. It’s an opportunity to find one-of-a-kind gifts and support local creators.
🎠 Carnival
Fun for the whole family awaits at the carnival located on 2nd Street, just east of the big blue bridge. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. Tickets can be purchased on site for:
- Single ticket: $1.50
- 10 tickets: $10
- 20 tickets: $20
- Unlimited rides (Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: $25 per rider
🚧 STREET CLOSURES & EVENT FOOTPRINT
Downtown will transform into a pedestrian-only festival zone beginning Thursday morning. Here’s what you need to know:
Closed starting May 8 at 7 a.m.:
- East 2nd Street from Clay to Daviess
Closed starting May 9 at 6 a.m.:
- East 2nd from Daviess to Walnut (a.k.a. BBQ Boulevard)
- Allen, St. Ann, Frederica, St. Elizabeth, Locust, Cedar from 3rd to Veterans Boulevard
- Veterans Boulevard (no thru traffic, no parking)
- Daviess Street Parking Garage: Closes Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at noon. Vehicles must be moved ahead of time.
Trolley Service Paused
- The Downtown Trolley will not run on May 9-10 due to closures.
📸 BBQ BOULEVARD: SNAP A PHOTO
In a brand-new tradition, the City is renaming West 2nd Street to “BBQ Boulevard” for the weekend. Temporary signage goes up at 6 a.m. Friday. Visitors are encouraged to grab a photo with the new signs and soak up the full BBQ spirit.
“This is such a fun way to embrace what Owensboro is known for,” said Tim Ross, Director of Public Events. “It’s a nod to our rich barbecue tradition and a way to build excitement and celebrate the flavor, history, and community that make BBQ & Barrels so special.”
🎟️ 50/50 RAFFLE
Feeling lucky? The 50/50 raffle is live now and open through the festival. Proceeds support local initiatives, and you could walk away with a hefty cash prize. Enter here: bbqandbarrels5050.com
