The BBQ & Barrels Festival continues to grow as a national-caliber celebration of bourbon, barbecue, and music. Within the larger festival, Visit Owensboro leads the bourbon component, which continues to expand and is quickly becoming one of Kentucky’s premier bourbon events. The bourbon experiences are made possible through the generous sponsorship of RW Baird Private Wealth Management, helping elevate the weekend into a signature destination for bourbon enthusiasts. This year’s…
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Artisan Craft Expo at BBQ & Barrels to Debut at the Owensboro Convention Center in 2026
What better way to celebrate March being National Craft Month than to announce a new and expanded craft shopping experience will debut at BBQ & Barrels! The Artisan Craft Expo will be hosted inside the first-floor exhibit halls at the Owensboro Convention Center on May 8-9, offering guests a comfortable, climate-controlled shopping environment. The event will feature a wide variety of handcrafted goods and custom food vendors, creating a marketplace designed…
Bourbon Tasting Tickets On Sale Now!
Visit Owensboro, in partnership with Baird Private Wealth Management, is excited to announce that tickets for the bourbon tasting portion of BBQ and Barrels are on sale now! VIP tickets are $120 and general admission tickets are $70 for the May 9th distillery sampling event. VIP tickets include special pours and BBQ samples. A companion ticket is also being sold for $20 that doesn’t include sampling bourbon. The bourbon tasting…
BBQ & Barrels Returns in 2026 with Chase Matthew as Headliner!
Owensboro’s signature food festival, BBQ & Barrels, returns May 8 & 9 with a full weekend of free entertainment and expanded BBQ offerings in downtown Owensboro. The festival kicks off Friday, May 8, at lunchtime with live music at the Courthouse Lawn Stage. Friday night, the energy turns up with DJ Shay’s Dance Party on the Owensboro Racing & Gaming Main Stage, located on the Convention Center front lawn. On…
BBQ & Barrels 50/50 Raffle Winning Number
WINNING NUMBER: B-1148600 The final pot was $40,080, and the individual with the winning ticket will take home $20,040! To claim the winning ticket, please visit Owensboro City Hall located at 101 E. 4th St, Owensboro, KY 42301, during the business hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday.Upon arrival, the ticket holder will complete a claim form. The winner will need the original copy of the winning ticket, as…
Attention, Foodies! BBQ Blueprint is Now Available!
In just 9 short days, downtown Owensboro will be filled with the sweet smell of smokey, delicious barbecue. Get a sneak peek of just some of the delicious options that will be available at BBQ & Barrels on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10! Our BBQ Blueprint is a guide to the unique signature menu items featured by a few of our food vendors. While not a comprehensive list,…
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen Coming to Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame
Start BBQ & Barrels a day early at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum! Multi-Grammy nominated Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen is taking the stage on Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM. Known for their meaty pile-driving rhythms and Frank’s dynamic and bold vocals, the band’s last two albums have both received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. They have twice been named IBMA Instrumental Group of…
Bourbon Tasting Tickets On Sale Now!
Visit Owensboro, in partnership with Baird Private Wealth Management, is excited to announce that tickets for the bourbon tasting portion of BBQ and Barrels will be on sale at 10:00 a.m. central time on February 28. VIP tickets are $120 and general admission tickets are $70 for the May 10th distillery sampling event. VIP tickets include special pours and BBQ samples. A companion ticket is also being sold for $20…
Now Accepting Vendor Applications!
We are currently accepting applications for food & beverage vendors (must be BBQ focused or complimentary to BBQ) and handmade arts & crafts vendors! Visit our Vendors page for more information and to access the applications.
BBQ & Barrels to Return in 2025 with Clay Walker Headlining Concert Lineup
BBQ and Barrels is back May 9-10, and so is an epic FREE entertainment lineup! 🎶 Friday Night: Resurrection – A Journey Tribute with special guest Lindsey James Williams 🎶Saturday Night: Clay Walker—a multi-platinum country artist with 11 No. 1 hits—takes the stage with special guest Drew Baldridge! Shout out to our stage sponsor Owensboro Racing & Gaming for making these events possible! Get ready for a weekend full of…