For readers who have never attended, how would you describe the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in just a few sentences?
- Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is a celebration of great food, drinks, and live entertainment. Guests can enjoy all-you-care-to-taste beer and bourbon sampling, mouthwatering barbecue, food vendors, live music, vendor shopping, and more. The Cary festival features two full days of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, and barbecue eatin’, making it the perfect weekend outing for foodies, bourbon enthusiasts, craft beer lovers, and anyone looking to have a great time.
What makes the Cary festival unique compared to other food and beverage festivals?
- Cary Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ is unique because it is a 2 day show. For the ultimate experience, our Grand Poobah Ticket includes all-access admission to both days, express entry, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited beer and bourbon sampling, a Friday night barbecue dinner, access to the exclusive Poobah-only area, and all live entertainment.
How has the festival evolved over the years, and what are you most excited about for this year’s event?
- This is our 19th year in Caru and over the years, the festival has continued to grow. We have an expanded selection of beer, bourbon, and other beverages, including hard seltzers, ready-to-drink canned cocktails, and wine. Every year we look for ways to make the guest experience better while keeping the fun atmosphere people have come to love.
What can attendees expect from the barbecue this year? Are there any new pitmasters, restaurants, or fan favorites returning?
- Attendees can expect delicious barbecue from the following vendors, The Redneck Bubba, Fat Boys BBQ and Catering, Medlin BBQ, Eat Well Be Well, and Barkley’s BBQ. They can also experience the Legendary Shrine of Swine and enjoy whole hog pork pickings led by the pitmasters from Redneck Scientific.
Tell us about the bourbon selection. Will there be any rare pours, new distilleries, or exclusive tastings?
- Guests will have the opportunity to sample more than 40 bourbons, ranging from well-known favorites to high-end selections. Guests can also enjoy exclusive tasting seminars throughout the weekend, where they’ll hear directly from distillers and industry experts while sampling bourbons and learning more about the craft behind them.
Beer lovers will have plenty to sample as well. What breweries or styles are you especially excited to showcase?
- Beer lovers will have more than 60 beers to sample throughout the weekend, featuring a mix of local craft breweries alongside regional and nationally recognized favorites.
Beyond the food and drinks, what kinds of entertainment and activities can guests enjoy throughout the day?
- Guests can enjoy a full lineup of live entertainment throughout the weekend. On Friday evening, Crush will take the stage from 7:30–9:30 p.m. Saturday’s entertainment includes performances by The Phoebes from 12:30–2:00 p.m. and Chris Taylor & The Rumor from 3:00–6:00 p.m.
What does the VIP experience include that makes it worth upgrading?
- VIP guests receive two extra hours of sampling before general admission (on Saturday), a barbecue dinner platter, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited beer and bourbon sampling, and access to all of the live entertainment throughout the day. It’s a great option for anyone looking to beat the crowds and enjoy even more time exploring everything the festival has to offer.
Are there any demonstrations, seminars, competitions, or special experiences attendees won’t want to miss?
- Throughout the weekend, attendees can take part in exclusive seminars led by industry experts and distillery representatives. On Friday, Oaklore Distilling Co. will host a special seminar, while Saturday’s lineup features sessions from Olde Raleigh Distillery, Hidden Ships Distillery, and On Your 6 Bourbon.
What tips would you give first-time attendees to get the most out of the festival?
- Take your time and explore everything the show has to offer. Sample a variety of alcohol and BBQ, but don’t forget to check out the vendor shopping and enjoy the live music. There’s something happening throughout the day, so the more you explore, the more you’ll get out of the experience.
Is there anything guests should bring—or leave at home—to make the day more enjoyable?
- Guests should bring their ID, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle, and dress for the summer weather.
How early do you recommend arriving?
- On Friday night, doors open at 6 PM. On Saturday, VIP doors open at 12 PM and General Admission begins at 2 PM. We recommend arriving a few minutes early so you have time to get in line, have your ID checked, and get your ticket scanned before heading into the festival.
Approximately how many vendors, breweries, distilleries, and barbecue teams will be participating this year?
- We have a selection of 40+ bourbons, 60+ beers, and 8 food vendors.
How do you go about selecting the vendors and exhibitors that take part?
- We have several fan favorite vendors who participate in several of our shows and we also highlight local vendors who are unique to each city we visit!
Why do you think events like this are important for bringing people together?
- Our events are all about bringing people together, it creates a great sense of community and gives people a chance to connect, enjoy great food and drinks, and create memories with family and friends.
If someone is on the fence about attending, what’s your elevator pitch for why they should buy a ticket?
- There’s truly something for everyone at this show! Whether you’re a barbecue lover, craft beer fan, bourbon enthusiast, or just looking for a fun day out with friends, the festival offers great food, drinks, live entertainment, and more!
Is there anything new or different this year that hasn’t been announced yet that our readers should know about?
- We still have a few tasting seminars and menu announcements to share! Guests can stay tuned for upcoming announcements featuring more details on the seminars, food offerings, and beverage selections available at the festival.
Where can readers purchase tickets and stay up to date on festival announcements?Readers can purchase their tickets and learn more at Beerandbourbon.com. They can follow @beerboubonbbq on Instagram to stay up to date with announcem