15 of the Best BBQ Festivals Across the U.S.

If you’re on an eternal quest for the best ‘cue around (beyond what you’re grilling up in your backyard, of course), you’ve officially found it. We’re sending you on a trail of the hottest hog fests, best barbecue parties and smokiest battlefields that America has to offer. We’ve hooked you up with the best grills, BBQing gadgets and oodles of hot-hot-hot recipes, but now it’s time to watch and learn from the greats. National BBQ parties kick into high gear in May and sizzle along through October. Taste a slice of Americana and hit up these BBQ fests, offering great local food, showcasing smoky traditions and bringing together community. Smokin’.

1. International Bar-B-Q Fest (Owensboro, KY): Since 1979, the Owensboro riverfront has become a mecca for pitmasters everywhere. Local restaurants, grilling teams and “backyard bar-b-q chefs” (hey, that could be you!) gather to compete in The Backyard Cookoff and show off top secret barbecue recipes. Over 80,000 people will be able to sample their masterpieces. On top of eating world famous barbecue, festival goers can indulge in live music, arts and crafts, a car show and good Southern hospitality. (via What’s Up Owensboro)

2. Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Contest (Memphis, TN): If you happen to be in Memphis during the month of May, you are in for the party of a lifetime! That’s right, this festival kicks up its hooves and makes sure it’s filled with enough barbecue, revelry and fun to make anyone go hog wild. For those participating in the barbecue contest, it’s not taken lightly. These pitmasters sweat over hot grills and go all out to create clever and creative kitchens that double as party booths outfitted with disco balls, DJs and drinks. Don’t miss out on the famed Miss Piggie Idol; it’s sure to instigate a lot of squeals! (via Too Sauced to Pork)

3. Houston Livestock Show + Rodeo World’s Championship Barbecue (Houston, TX): In Texas, it’s all about pork ribs, beef brisket and chicken, all flavored with aromatic woods like hickory, mesquite, oak and the skills of fierce barbecue masters. So why the choco-dipped jalapeños? Before the bucking broncos take to the arena and rodeo competitors dust off their chaps, about 300 teams prep to heat up the heart of Texas with some mouthwatering barbecue and innovative treats to be crowned the most delicious in categories like Most Creative Food, Best Fried Food, Best Breakfast Food, Best Food-on-a-Stick, Best Dessert — do you think they need judges next year? (Photo via Chron)

4. Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Lynchburg, TN): Considered one of the most prestigious barbecue competitions in the world, smoke masters come to Jack Daniel’s Hollow to compete for $10,000, and it’s no walk in the park to get there. Culinary categories for the coveted title of Grand Champion include chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder, butts, beef brisket, dessert, Cook’s Choice and Jack Daniel’s sauce. 25,000 discerning fans from around the world gather to celebrate the tradition of barbecue and sample local yums from across the country. A full day of smoking, seasoning, searing and indulging in world-class barbecue is sure to satisfy your ‘cue cravings. (via Jack Daniel’s)

5. Big Apple Barbecue Block Party (New York, NY): Bring an empty stomach and a picnic blanket to celebrate some of America’s best culinary and musical traditions, right in the heart of the Big Apple. Madison Square is where you get a weekend’s worth of peace, love and barbecue, attracting some of the country’s top pitmasters and local NYC comfort food hotspots to dish out their award-winning barbecue. Take home more than a full tummy, and hit up the cooking stages and seminars to learn how to make Austin-inspired BBQ tacos and hearty summer salads. (photo via TimeOut)

6. The Barbecue Festival (Lexington, NC): North Carolina is known as the “cradle of ‘cue,” and Lexington is the barbecue capital of the world. No wonder this fest doesn’t need a catchy name, it’s simply the best barbecue you can get. The main street is closed off for over 400 exhibitors to showcase anything from arts and crafts to down-home cooking, six stages are set for entertainment, three main tents are chopping up barbecue, fixin’ slaw and frying up pigtail fries and the kids can get rowdy at the BBQ Carnival. Come see what the “cradle of the ‘cue” has to offer (including annual “pig-themed sand sculptures”) and you may never want to leave. (via The Barbecue Festival)

7. Beach, Boogie and BBQ Festival (Myrtle Beach, SC): As the race to see who has the best food in the state heats up Labor Day weekend, be sure you hit the beach on an empty stomach. This two-day festival is filled with mouthwatering barbecue, live entertainment and a rousing cornhole match. (Time to start practicing in your backyard now, we reckon.) Competitors can showcase their smoking skills in the Barbecue Championship, Sauce Competition and Wing Competition. Even kids can compete in a junior competition. (via Think Myrtle Beach)

8. Big Pig Jig (Vienna, GA): Welcome to Georgia’s oldest barbecue contest, packing a porky punch in down-home Vienna. The Big Pig Jig was born in 1982 when “a group of self-professed gourmets made wagers on who among them could cook the most succulent pig.” That year, only whole hogs were cooked and teams competed for $1,000 in prize money. Today, the Big Pig Jig is really getting piggy with it with over 400 entries of hogs, shoulders, ribs, barbecue sauce, barbecued chicken, $16,000 in prize money and over 10,000 festival goers… all in the name of pork! (via Hungry Passport)

9. The American Royal World Series of Barbecue (Kansas City, MO): This festival really knocks BBQ outta the park! The American Royal is an annual eight-week season of rodeo, livestock shows, agricultural activities and the world’s largest barbecue competition — with over 500 teams competing and 70,000 spectators. If you’re serious about ‘cue this prestigious world series is a championship you want to see. For those of you competing, may the smoke be ever in your favor, and for those who just want some good ‘cue, Kansas City is where it’s at! (Photo via The Cooking Channel)

10. Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival (On tour throughout the U.S.): At the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Fest, you’re invited to pick your pleasure, kick back and relax, ’cause this tour makes its rounds across the country. Admission buys you a glass so you can enjoy an all-you-can-taste sampling of over 60 beers and 40 bourbons, and don’t forget to wash it all down with some Southern-loving barbecue. Even learn some DIY butchering tips with classes from local masters o’ meat. (via Leigh Brown and Associates)

11. Cochon 555 (Kicking off in Chicago, IL): This annual touring event, focused on bringing heritage pigs to dinner tables across America, is true pig love. Cochon555 features five chefs, five pigs and five winemakers to promote sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs and whole animal utilization. This one-of-a-kind traveling competition is not to go untasted; eat good food, drink fine wine and get to know good swine in a sustainable way. (via The Village Voice)

12. Hogs for The Cause (New Orleans, LA): This re-creation of a traditional Southern pig roast invites prized pork gourmands and amateur BBQers and bakers (yes, those are pig macarons pictured above) to battle it out in categories such as Whole Hog, Porkpourri, Ribs, and Shoulder all for the sake of raising funds to support families and research for pediatric brain cancer. Louisiana’s Pork Champion is decided by festival goers who deposit donations into the piggy banks of their favorite team. Hogs for The Cause may put on the best cocktail and barbecue party in NOLA, but they are also a premier funding source for pediatric brain cancer and outreach services in the United States. (Photo via Nola.com)

13. Stumptown BBQ Smoke Off (Whitefish, MT): The great Smoke Off takes place under the stunning peaks of Glacier National Park in “big sky” country. Brought to barbecue lovers by Montana’s only authentic pit BBQ joint Piggyback BBQ, this festival is a pork-tastic time! Whether you’re competing or simply want to get your barbecue fix, Stumptown turns into the greatest smoketown two nights outta the year. (Photo via Piggyback BBQ)

14. Oinktoberfest (Clarence, NY): Just outside of Buffalo, you’ll find a festival that celebrates America’s traditions in barbecue. From the Carolina’s vinegar-based sauces to Texas’s beef brisket, Oinktoberfest has something for everyone to love. Competitors take on the following food categories: chicken, pork ribs, pork butt/shoulder and beef brisket to tally up their scores and determine the Grand Champion. New this year is a whole hog competition along with entertainment. In the great outdoors with great barbecue, this is one festival you can pig out at. (via Oinktoberfest)

15. Ohio Smoked Meat and BBQ Festival (Nelsonville, OH): For a dose of small-town Americana, get yourself to the Ohio Smoked Meat and BBQ Fest and sample some of the best chicken, ribs, pork and brisket in the Midwest. Competitors sling their meat for a chance to win over $10,000 in cash money. You could say the winner is really brining home the bacon.

‘Cue us in on your fave fests that pack a porky punch, in the comments below!

Eating out as a vegan can be a true challenge, especially if you don’t exactly know that what you’re ordering is 100% vegan. Fast food faves like McDonald’s and Taco Bell are secretly packed with vegan items, and Starbucks is no exception. From oat milk coffees to satisfyingly savory snacks, you’ve actually got plenty of plant-based choices when you pull up at your local Starbucks.

Scroll on to explore every vegan Starbucks drink and food item you can add to your order!

Vegan Starbucks Drinks

Starbucks

1. Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado

This new-to-the-menu espresso drink combines brown sugar syrup and oat milk to balance out the punchy coffee notes.

Starbucks

2. Latte (Iced + Hot)

You can totally enjoy a latte at Starbucks if you're vegan. Their oat, almond, coconut, and soy milks are vegan, plus many of their syrups qualify as vegan, too, if you want to flavor up your drink. According to this Starbucks supervisor, all of Starbucks "clear" syrups are vegan and dairy-free. Starbucks' regular and white mocha sauces and caramel drizzle are also vegan and dairy-free.

Starbucks

3. Americano (Iced + Hot)

Starbucks' Americanos are just water and espresso, so you don't have to worry about any dairy being in there. Optionally, you could ask for a splash of non-dairy milk and pumps of your fave syrup.

Starbucks

4. Brewed Coffee (Iced + Hot)

Same goes for their brewed coffees, including iced coffee. Easily ask your barista to add in some non-dairy milk and a few pumps of syrup if you desire!

Starbucks

5. Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew

This vegan cold brew drink is crafted with non-dairy cold foam that's flavored with salted caramel – and it's delish!

Starbucks

6. Nitro Cold Brew

A plain nitro cold brew from Starbucks is fully vegan and dairy-free. You can choose to add a splash of non-dairy milk, if you wish your sip to be a bit smoother and creamier.

Starbucks

7. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This one's a classic: shots of espresso get shaken up with ice and brown sugar syrup to create a frothy foam, then the drink is topped off with oat milk to cut the bitterness. It's quite a delectable order, even if you're not eating fully vegan.

Starbucks

8. Starbucks Refreshers

All of Starbucks' fruity Refreshers are vegan. Plus, you can can add lemonade, tea, other flavor inclusions like strawberry and peach to add some extra oomph.

Starbucks

9. Iced Black Tea

Their refreshing iced black tea is certifiably vegan, too.

Starbucks

10. Iced Green Tea

If you prefer green tea, Starbucks' offering is vegan-friendly. If you tend to take your tea a bit sweeter, just order it with however many packets of your preferred sweetener, and your barista will add it in.

Starbucks

11. Lemonade

You truly can't go wrong with a lemonade!

Starbucks

12. Hot Teas

Starbucks' hot teas are totally vegan, too. If you want to make them fancier, ask for an additional splash of your go-to non-dairy milk!

Vegan Starbucks Foods

Starbucks

1. Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Now onto the food! First up is Starbucks' oatmeal, which you can fancy up with nuts, berries, and brown sugar. Make sure to order it with water to ensure it stays vegan.

Starbucks

2. Plain Bagel

Surprisingly, Starbucks' bagels are also vegan.

Starbucks

3. Everything Bagel

The plain and everything bagels will work for any vegan eater.

Starbucks

4. Avocado Spread

Plus, you can order your bagel with a side of this delicious avocado spread for a nutritious boost!

Starbucks

5. Spicy Falafel Pocket

This 100% vegan snack pocket is new to the Starbucks menu, but it's already become a fan-favorite amongst vegans and non-vegans alike.

Starbucks

6. Chipotle Almond Dip

You can order the Spicy Falafel Pocket with a side of this fully-vegan Chipotle Almond Dip (AKA Bitchin’ Sauce). Yum.

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What is it about family sagas that seem to make book clubs more interesting? Maybe it's because we know interpersonal relationships can be a little dysfunctional. It could be that we still don't know how to communicate with the people we love the most. Even if we love our parents and siblings, reading about other families' fictional twists and turns gives us a rush of adrenaline.

So it's no wonder Jenna Bush Hager's January book club pick feels like something we can read without putting down. It's full of complicated relationship dynamics, love, and reconciling one's identity with their past. You can say it's the perfect read to kick off your 2025 reading goals!

Learn more about Jenna Bush Hager's 2025 book club pick and fall in love with one character's journey of self-discovery.

Amazon

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

Penn should be excited about advancing her education at the University of Edinburgh, but she can't stop thinking about the secret her parents have been keeping from her. For some reason, she believes she'll uncover it while she's in Scotland because Lord Lennox — her father's friend — is in the area.

Her hunger for the truth leads her to Lord Lennox's estate where she she starts mingling with his family and even discovers love in this moving novel.

@readwithjenna/Instagram

Jenna Bush Hager's Thoughts About The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus

Jenna Bush Hager thinks readers will love The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus because "it's a rich novel" with themes of "friendship and motherhood" (via Instagram). It's so good, she's sure "it will sweep you off your feet (via Instagram).

We hope you enjoy reading about Penn's journey in The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus and encourage you to check out Reese Witherspoon's January book club pick next!

Trader Joe’s loves to keep us on our toes when it comes to their new arrivals. We’re constantly monitoring the aisles to discover all the new TJ’s sweet treats and savory snacks they launch – and these 7 new picks for January 2025 are not to be missed! All of these Trader Joe’s products will run you less than $5, which only makes sealing the deal on your grocery bill easier.

From delicious dips to a very enticing new frozen meal, these are the 7 best new Trader Joe’s finds you absolutely need to try in January 2025.

Trader Joe's

1. Teensy Candy Bars

These tiny little candy bar bites ($2.99) resemble Snickers in the best way possible: layers of nougat, caramel, and peanuts are enveloped in a delicious chocolate coating for maximum snackage. We're gonna have to resist eating the whole bag! TJ's even suggests using these bits as decoration for other desserts, like sprinkling some on a scoop of ice cream or baking them into some cookies.

Trader Joe's

2. Olive Tapenade Hummus

Trader Joe's array of dips is simply too good to resist, and this newcomer hummus ($3.49) is no exception! It's a tub of "smooth and nutty" hummus topped with a tapenade comprised of black olives, manzanilla olives, capers, and olive oil to give it a salty effect. It's gonna taste so great as a dip for crackers or as a spread on a Mediterranean pita wrap.

Trader Joe's

3. Organic Concord Grape Jelly

This squeezable grape jelly ($3.49) is nothing short of nostalgic. Trader Joe's says it's "super smooth, joyously juicy, and potently purple," which immediately has us sold on making PB&Js every day now.

Trader Joe's

4. Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Oh, yeah. Bring on the spice with these spicy nuggs ($3.99) that make the perfect easy meal no matter the time of day! Made from all-natural chicken breast and rib meat, breaded with wheat, rice and corn flours, then covered in hot sauce and lightly fried, TJ's has their texture down to a tee. You can easily cook 'em in the air fryer, oven, or microwave before chowing down!

Trader Joe's

5. Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos

These halved and fried frozen tacos ($4.99) will totally crush your Taco Bell cravings, since they come together super quickly and contain flavors with mind-blowing authenticity! Each taco is filled with a blend of seasoned mashed potatoes and some "ever-so- slightly spicy" poblano peppers that'll work so well with any dipping sauce, from TJ's salsa to their creamy Jalapeño Sauce.

Trader Joe's

6. Strawberry Mini Hold The Cone!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Trader Joe's is debuting a new flavor ($3.99) of their classic Hold The Cone! frozen dessert: strawberry! These tiny, chocolate-covered cones are lined with even more "rich" chocolate on the inside, then packed with strawberry ice cream, which TJ's says is crafted with plenty of strawberry purée.

Trader Joe's

7. Caesar Salad Dip

Trader Joe's shoppers have said this new Caesar Salad Dip ($3.69) makes a perfect girl dinner addition– which, if you get it, you get it! The tub starts with a "creamy" base that's then loaded up with Caesar-seasoned sour cream, mayo, anchovy paste, Parmesan, and finely shredded Romaine for the crunch. It's best enjoyed with crackers or veggie sticks to dip, but you could also smatter fried chicken or seared steak in it for some ahh-mazing flavor!

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