International Bar-B-Q Festival – Owensboro, Kentucky
Friday, May 13 – 12:00pm–9:00pm
Saturday, May 14 – 10:00am–9:00pm
Bar-B-Q Block Party Returns in 2022
Join us Friday and Saturday, May 13 & 14, 2022 for the return of the Bar-B-Q Block Party in Downtown Owensboro! The Bar-B-Q Block Party was born from the idea that good old-fashioned Owensboro barbecue should be celebrated and enjoyed with family and friends in downtown Owensboro.
The Bar-B-Q Block Party will include your traditional Bar-B-Q Festival favorite elements, such as the church cooking teams, the Backyard Cooking Competition presented by Kentucky Legend, and live music on the front lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center. In addition, the Block Party will be adding a dozen more Bar-B-Q food trucks and vendors to 2nd St. this year along with a carnival and midway games.
- Friday, May 13 — 12:00pm – 9:00pm
- Saturday, May 14 — 10:00am – 9:00pm
Backyard Cook-Off
Presented by Kentucky Legend
The Backyard Cook-Off is an opportunity for backyard bar-b-q chefs to fire up their grills and smokers to compete among the best in the region.
More than 30 cooking teams compete for pride and prizes as they apply their home-grown skills to cook up some of the best beef, chicken and pork you’ll ever taste. Awards are presented in each category and an overall Backyard Cook Grand Champion is selected.
Local Churches
Experience classic Owensboro Bar-B-Q as local church cooking teams sell their secret-recipe bar-b-q that has become famous at their annual picnics, including BBQ sandwiches, ¼-chicken plates, and burgoo by the cup or gallon. (Note that churches will not be selling whole chickens.)
Food sales will begin at Noon on Friday, May 13.
Churches participating include Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes, Precious Blood, and St. Mary of the Woods.
Meet Joey Chestnut
World-famous eating champion Joey Chestnut will be at a “Meat & Greet” presented by Kentucky Legend from 12:00pm to 1:00pm on 2nd Street, near the Kentucky Legend sampling tent in front of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. This is a chance to meet and take a photo with the World Champion eater. Joey will also be a celebrity judge and awards presenter for the Backyard Cooking Competition Saturday afternoon presented by Kentucky Legend.
Bring your appetite and enjoy the atmosphere
Seating will be available with picnic tables placed all along 2nd St. and side streets for you to enjoy your Bar-B-Q while socializing with family and friends.
In addition to Bar-B-Q from the church teams and Backyard Cook-Off competitions, you can sample some of KY Legends’s best meats and enjoy a wide array of incredible food and drinks from restaurants throughout downtown Owensboro.
Live Music
Enjoy great live music on the front lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center
Friday, May 13
- 5:00pm – 7:00pm — Galactic Foghorn
- 7:00pm – 9:00pm — Whiskey Row
Saturday, May 14
- 11:00am – 12:00pm — Troy Miller
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm — Rack’em Leon
- 2:00pm – 3:00pm — Dakota Hayden
- 3:15pm – 4:15pm — Carly Moffa
- 4:30pm – 4:45pm — Backyard Cooking Competition Awards
- 5:00pm – 7:00pm — Blackford Creek
- 7:00pm – 9:00pm — The League of Dangerous Gentlemen
BBQ 5K
Kick off the Bar-B-Q Block Party at 8:00am by participating in the Bar-B-Q 5K. Join the YMCA for their annual fundraiser fun run. Work up a sweat, burn some calories, and build up an appetite for some delicious bar-b-q. Proceeds benefit the scholarship programs at the Owensboro Family Y.
Carnival
The carnival and midway games will also be returning this year. Enjoy your favorite rides and games along 2nd St. near Blue Bridge just east of Daviess Street.
Vendors
The festival will have a limited number of bar-b-q related vendors only this year. If you sell bar-b-q sauces, rubs, grill equipment, etc. or have art that is bar-b-q themed, download the application and submit it for review.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have questions about this year’s Bar-B-Q Block Party.
International Bar-B-Q Festival
P.O. Box 434
Owensboro, KY 42302