The 7th annual Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival will feature a team competition offering up wing samples on Friday and pulled pork samples on Saturday. Restaurants will also be selling their barbecue alongside competitors while live music entertains guests on the stage. In addition there will be a shopping area, cooking demonstrations and the Bourbon Experience.
Festival Date: August 14-15, 2015
Festival Hours: Friday, 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, 12-8 p.m.
Location
Technically it's the special event space at Atlantic Station but, that's best described as the large paved lot north of the Atlantic Station parking deck next to where the BB&T Atlanta Open was held and I-75.
Parking
If you drive to the event, you'll want to park in the Atlantic Station parking deck. If you park on the top level of the deck (P1), you'll need to walk to the valet stand at street level between Yard House and The Pig and the Pearl then around the back of Yard House toward the event space. If you park in the lower half of the deck (P2), simply walk toward 20th Street and across the street to the festival. There is a fee to park based on how long you stay at Atlantic Station. Be sure to pay for your parking at the pay stations located throughout the parking deck before exiting.
Taking MARTA
Ride a Red or Gold line train to the Arts Center Station. From there you can walk to Atlantic Station or take their Free Ride Shuttle, which loads in the MARTA bus bay. By bus, take MARTA's Bus 37, the Defoors Ferry Rd./Atlantic Station route.
Traffic Impact
Traffic into and out of Atlantic Station may be busier than usual. Combine that with the fact that they're closing down 20th Street for the festival this year and you may have to wait longer than usual to exit the area.
The Competition
More than 60 teams will be competing for $18,000 worth of prize money at this Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event. Want a taste of the competition? Sample chicken wings from competitors for $2 per wing on Friday night or pay $1 for a pulled pork sample on Saturday. Those with samples for sale will have blue flags at their booths.
Restaurants
Dirty South BBQ, Bone Lick BBQ, Freckled & Blue, J.D.'s Bar-B-Q, Jim'N Nick's Bar-B-Q, Pit Boss BBQ, Sonny's BBQ, Twin Smokers BBQ and Williamson Bros. BBQ will all be offering fare at a cost comparable to their menu prices. These vendors will have red flags at their booths.
Bourbon Experience
With your Bourbon Experience ticket you get entry to the festival and 10 sampling tokens. Bourbon samples cost between 1-4 tokens each and additional tokens can be purchased at the event for $1 each. This event usually sells out so get your tickets before you go.
Music
Heaven Davis, Gasoline Bros. and Larkin Poe take the stage Friday night. On Saturday you can catch Gibbs + Cash, Smokin Novas, Kurt Thomas, The Dusty 45s and Brother Hawk.
Tickets
Tickets are $6 in advance and $10 at the gate. Children 12 years old and younger receive free admission when a paying adult accompanies them.
Cash Only
Tickets and food purchases are cash only at the festival. For your convenience, there will be ATMs on site.
New for 2015
The footprint of the festival has been expanded to fill some of the area where the BB&T Atlanta Open was held. Also, the Bourbon Experience has been expanded to include more selections in an area that will accommodate more people.
Expert Advice
Get there early. Most teams and restaurants sell out of barbecue well before the festival is over so you'll want to be there shortly after the gates open each day for your best tasting opportunities.
Plan on standing in the sun. There isn't any natural shade at the Atlantic Station event space and if this year's festival is anything like past years', it will be hard to find a seat in the tented dining area.
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