Feed yourself — and help the hungry — at the Carolina BBQ Festival in Charlotte
The Carolina BBQ Festival is returning to Camp North End this May for a second year, bringing live music, vendors, beverages and more to the celebration of barbecue.
This festival will showcase the Southeast’s barbecue traditions, including varying cooking styles, with whole hogs, chicken, brisket, ribs, Lexington chopped pork, hash and rice and more. This year, it’s expanding with more pitmasters and more charities served, too.
“Last year was so successful that we knew we could reach more people this year,” said festival founder Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ.
Here are the details
When: Sunday, May 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
What: The Carolina BBQ Festival raises funds for local and national charities that support and feed communities.
Tickets: https://carolinabbqfest.org/
Cost: General admission is $75, which includes tastings and merch. The $150 VIP admission upgrades you to include a hat and sticker, early admission, three drinks plus a water bottle, oysters on the half shell and designated VIP seating and bathrooms.
The pitmasters
This year, the number of pitmasters participating in the barbecue festival is nearly doubling, from eight to 14. Those participating are:
- Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ
Bryan Furman of Bryan Furman BBQ
- Keith Henning of Black Powder Smokehouse
- Ken & Jess Hess of County Smoak
Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs
Garren Kirkman of Jon G’s Barbecue
Michael Letchworth of Sam Jones BBQ
- Nathan Monk of Lexington BBQ
- Elliott Moss
Matthew Register of Southern Smoke BBQ
Brandon Shepard of Shepard BBQ
Ronald Simmons of Master Blend Family Farms
Jake Wood of Lawrence Barbecue
The charities
The festival raises funds for nonprofit groups that work to feed the hungry and those in need. They include:
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 2:27 PM.
