Smoked Dallas is back for its sixth year bringing the best of Texas BBQ into the heart of Downtown Dallas. Texas BBQ along with great music and games make for a perfect afternoon. This year’s festival will take place at Main Street Garden (1902 Main St.) on Saturday, Sept. 21 starting at 2 p.m.
This year’s Pitmaster lineup reads like a who’s who of Texas BBQ. Six of the top ten BBQ joints in Texas are represented, according to Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn. Smoked Dallas includes past favorites like Cattleack Barbeque, Heim Barbecue, Hutchins BBQ, and Louie Mueller Barbecue. Smoked Dallas will also have two of the most revered and historic BBQ joints from Lockhart Texas, proclaimed the Barbecue Capitol of Texas by the state Legislature in 1999.
The “Original Black’s Barbecue” opened in 1932. Now 4 generations of the Edgar Black family later, the Original Black’s in Lockhart is the oldest BBQ joint in Texas, always owned by the same family. Kreuz Market originally started as a meat market and grocery and has been smoking meats since 1900. New to Smoked Dallas this year will be Evie Mae’s, Ferris Wheelers, Hurtado, Micklethwait, Panther City, Tejas Chocolate & BBQ, and Bodacious Bar-B-Q Mobberly.
BBQ tastes better with good country music and there’s no one better than honky-tonk legend Dale Watson. Alabama-born but raised in Texas, Watson calls his brand of American roots “Ameripolitan” to differentiate it from the current crop of Nashville-based pop country. Straight Tequila Night play 90’s country radio. The 40 Acre Mule rounds out Smoked Dallas’ music. They have a reputation for seamlessly blurring the lines between country, soul, and rock with songwriting that borders between blues-drenched heartbreak and an old school riot in the streets!
Along with great BBQ and music, Smoked Dallas offers family-friendly activities and games, including armadillo races, a mechanical bull, and so much more.
General Admission passes to the event are $50 in advance and allow for entry into the festival at 1 p.m. along with three hours of complimentary BBQ tastings, live music entertainment and games. General Admission Children’s Passes for those ages six to twelve are $14. Children under five get in free. Smoked BBQ Fest is open to members of the public of all ages and BBQ tastings are available to all ticket holders. VIP Passes to the event are $96 in advance and allow for entry into the festival at 12 p.m. for an extra hour of exclusive BBQ tastings. Upon arrival, VIP pass holders receive two complimentary drink coupons, access to the premium VIP area with a VIP bar, VIP restrooms, and premium stage views.
Smoked Dallas’ charity partner is Meat Fight, Inc., a Dallas-based nonprofit that helps people living with Multiple Sclerosis take on epic endurance challenges in order to bring more hope, more happiness, and a badass community to their lives. Tickets to Smoked Dallas are available now at www.smokedbbqfesthttp://www.smokedbbqfest.com.
