As the birthplace of one of the greatest American barbecue styles, it only makes sense that Santa Maria should hold its very own barbecue extravaganza!
Indeed, the time has come for the first-ever Santa Maria BBQ Festival Brews & Cues. Happening on April 22 from noon to 6 p.m. at Santa Maria’s Pioneer Park, the event features a professional competition overseen by local celebrity judges who will vote on the “Best BBQ” and present the “#1 Branding Iron” award.
A separate competition will crown the “Best Backyard Cook” and will include beer tasting from 12 regional craft breweries in the “Brews & Cues” event.
Along the way, you can expect a lot of culinary fireworks based on our regional culinary tradition of Santa Maria Style Barbecue, which is famous for its dry-rubbed top block sirloin and tri-tip cooked over coals of native red oak and served with locally grown pinquito beans.
Live music, a Kid’s Corner and cornhole tournament will also be in the mix. Festival tickets are just $10 for general admission and $25 for the “Brews & Cues” tasting bar. Better yet, the festival is a benefit fundraiser for the Santa Maria Kiwanis for Kids program.
There’s no better way to savor the local flavor in what Sunset Magazine called “the West’s best BBQ” town!
