NYC BBQ Weekly: The Top Barbecue Events for the Rest of 2019
Pig Island NYC takes place in Red Hook, Brooklyn on September 7 and you won’t want to miss it.
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With the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party not happening this summer, there’s a big hole in the hearts of barbecue fans around the city. It was a one-of-a-kind event where you could try some of the best smoked meats in the world in the middle of Manhattan. It’s possible the event will return later this year or next year, and I’ll report that as soon as something official is locked down.
In the meantime, many of us still want to attend the best barbecue events in the city, especially since we can’t at the BABBP. Earlier in the year, Rib King NYC, Brisket King NYC, and the Pig Beach Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit were some big event highlights, but there are still more to come.
Here are some of the biggest and best events that are planned for the New York City area for the rest of 2019.
July 5-7 - I Love BBQ and Music Festival 2019 in Lake Placid, New York
While Lake Placid is somewhat far for New Yorkers to travel to (especially if you don’t have a car), the I Love BBQ and Music Festival is one of the largest barbecue events held annually in the state and it is now in its 14th year. On top of musical performances by more than a dozen acts, lots of barbecue and drink vendors are onsite to fill up visitors. There will also be a large Kansas City Barbeque Society competition onsite with 40 teams. Check out the full schedule to get a better picture of the festivities.
July 12-14: New Jersey State Barbecue Championship in North Wildwood, New Jersey
If you live in New Jersey and love barbecue, you won’t want to miss the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship. It’s got BBQ vendors, live cooking demos, music, and a competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Check out the full schedule to get a better look at the weekend.
August 16-18: Hudson Valley Ribfest 2019 in New Paltz, New York
If you love ribs (I certainly do!), you should check out this year’s Hudson Valley Ribfest, which is just north of New York City. Held at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz, the event has lots of ribs sold on site, family activities, live music, and more. The best deal is to do the VIP package for Friday night ($60) or Saturday night ($70), which includes unlimited ribs, beer, sides, and soda.
Saturday, August 24 - Blues BBQ Festival in Hudson River Park, Manhattan
One of the annual end-of-summer barbecue events that is beloved by Manhattanites (especially those on the west side) is the Blues BBQ Festival at Hudson River Park at Pier 97. It’s a relatively small event with just four BBQ vendors and five blues artists, but admission is free, so it’s a fun event to drop by for two to four hours. Be sure to bring sunscreen, as there are usually no shaded areas. (If you can’t tell, I got sunburnt the last time I went!)
Saturday, September 7 - Pig Island NYC in Red Hook, Brooklyn
The best way to end summer 2019 is at the 10th annual Pig Island NYC food event at Erie Basin Park in Red Hook, Brooklyn. This all-inclusive event features more than 20 different chefs and pitmasters from NYC and out of town preparing pork creations that will blow your mind. There’s also tons of cider, beer, and spirits too. Buy early bird tickets here.
Don’t see your event listed here? Please check out the full calendar on the NYC BBQ website and email me if you would like to see your event listed in the calendar or in this newsletter. Hope to see you soon at some of these events!
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
EAT ALL ABOUT IT
Former Chopped champion Tim Witcher is about to open a new wing and barbecue joint in New Jersey.
Here are the top BBQ and food stories in the New York area this week:
Kimchi Smoke, one of the top New Jersey BBQ joints, will soon be opening a location called Kimchi Smoke KTX inside the Market Eatery Food Hall inside of H-Mart in Paramus. The joint plans to be open by mid-July 2019 and its hours of operation will be Wednesday to Sunday 11:30am to 8:30pm. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with H-Mart as the popularity of Korean food, culture and Korean BBQ continues to grow. Their nationwide presence gives Kimchi Smoke access to reach our fans and social media followers far and near,” Kimchi Smoke owner and pitmaster Robert Austin Cho said in a statement to NYC BBQ.
Former Chopped champion Tim Witcher will soon open a new wings and barbecue restaurant in New Jersey. The joint is called The Wing Kitchen and it is located at the Wedgwood Country Club in Washington Township. Witcher will be serving up six flavors of wings (honey jalapeno, garlic parmesan, smokehouse BBQ, buffalo, sesame ginger, and chimichurri) and a variety of burgers and smoked meats.
Chef Greg Baxtrom is throwing a large barbecue and food event on Monday, June 24 to support The Yellowhammer Fund, a non-profit that provides funding for anyone seeking access to abortion in Alabama (which recently passed one of the most restrictive laws in the country). Regardless of what you think of the event’s purpose, the food and drink lineup are outstanding and they include restaurants including Olmsted, Fette Sau, Maison Yaki, MeMe’s Diner, Momofuku Nishi, Chez MaTante, and Claro.
North New Jersey and New York have some of the best hot dog joints in the whole United States. But which state has the best? LoHud.com and NorthJersey.com are running a large reader’s poll to see which hot dog joint in either Jersey or New York wins. The winner will be announced on July 3, just in time for perhaps the biggest hot dog holiday, Independence Day.
A new location of the patriotic and quickly growing barbecue chain Mission BBQ will soon open in Marlton, New Jersey on August 19. The new store will mean there are six locations in the region and 80 around the country.
IRL BBQ
The Saratoga Balloon and BBQ Festival this weekend in Ballston Spa will be a great event for families and barbecue fans.
Here are the top BBQ (and related) food events coming soon to the New York metro and the Tri-state area:
June 21-23: The Saratoga Balloon and BBQ Festival will take place in, you guessed it, Saratoga, New York. The event will feature BBQ from six national vendors, and there will also be draft beers from New Belgium Brewery, spirits from Black Button Distilling, and more. In addition to BBQ, there will be 30 hot air balloon launches, live entertainment, a kids zone, a festival marketplace with 75 vendors, and more. More info here.
June 25: If you keep kosher or just like good kosher food, Kosher Brooklyn's Brew Bourbon & BBQ Festival is for you. It will feature 15 restaurants serving kosher dishes (including Main House BBQ), over 200 beers and bourbons, live music, cocktail bar, and more. Buy tickets here.
July 5-7: Just after the fourth of July, the I Love BBQ and Music Festival 2019 will be revving up in Lake Placid, New York. This is a large event that attracts barbecue enthusiasts from all around the Tri-state area. Not only are there Kansas City Barbeque Society competitions happening on-site, but there are also lots of food and drink vendors for the public to eat and drink well while watching lots of live music. More info here.
July 12-14: The New Jersey State Barbecue Championship will not only be about competition, but will also have live cooking demonstrations and music throughout the weekend. Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, the NJ champ will have the opportunity to compete at the American Royal later this year. Details about the weekend here.
July 17: If you love beer, you won’t want to miss NYC Brewers Choice in Brooklyn. This all-inclusive event will feature outdoor space, sunset views, live music, and a ton of beer tastings. This year, 20 small batch brewers will come together to celebrate local grains and malts. Buy tickets here.
August 16-18: When it comes to barbecue festivals north of New York, Hudson Valley Ribfest 2019 is one of the top events. RibFest will be held at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz and it will feature family activities, live music, and more. More info here.
August 24: One of the last summer barbecue events held in NYC is the Hudson River Park Blues BBQ Festival, which is held annually at Pier 97 at Hudson River Park on the west side of Manhattan. Admission is free and there will be five different blues acts throughout the day and BBQ vendors selling grub. More info here.
September 7: For those that love all things pork and barbecue, the 10th annual Pig Island NYC will be a can’t-miss affair. Held outdoors at beautiful Erie Basin Park in Red Hook, Brooklyn, this all-inclusive event will feature a ton of great food, beer, cider, and liquor. I’m already hungry for it all. Buy early bird tickets here.
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