Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival — BBQ Sampler

The Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, according to the event’s official information page. The festival site describes a two-day waterfront event built around barbecue vendors, craft beer, live bands and live mural artists, while the Visit St. Pete-Clearwater listing says attendees can expect more than 100 barbecue dishes and a People’s Choice vote for the best team. The event is being promoted as the 2026 Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival & Competition, with gate hours of 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on both days, according to the festival website and ticketing page. A local event preview published this week by I Love the Burg called it the festival’s ninth annual edition and said the weekend would bring award-winning pitmasters, local bands and local beer to the downtown waterfront. (tampabaybarbecue.com) ### Where is the festival actually taking place? Vinoy Park, at 701 Bayshore Drive NE in St. Petersburg, is the listed venue on the festival’s official info page. That clarifies the event’s footprint more narrowly than the broader “Tampa Bay” branding in the festival name. The Visit St. Pete-Clearwater event page also lists Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg as the site and describes the festival as a waterside event with barbecue, beer, cocktails, games and live music. (tampabaybarbecue.com) ### What can people expect to eat and drink? More than 100 barbecue dishes will be available for purchase, according to the Visit St. (tampabaybarbecue.com) Pete-Clearwater listing and a local preview from I Love the Burg. The official festival homepage describes slow-smoked brisket, rib plates and local pours as central parts of the weekend. (visitstpeteclearwater.com) More than 30 food vendors are expected, the tourism listing says, and the festival’s food page names vendors including Big Red BBQ, Liberty Smokehouse, Meathead’s BBQ, Son of a Brisket, Southern Smoked JP, Uncle G’s BBQ and The Bacon Boss. The food page says the vendor list is still being updated. Craft beer and cocktails are also part of the lineup, according to the Visit St. (visitstpeteclearwater.com) Pete-Clearwater page and the festival homepage. ### How does the barbecue competition work? The festival’s competition page says the event includes two tracks: a judged competition and a People’s Choice vote by attendees. The judged contest is limited to participating barbecue food vendors. (visitstpeteclearwater.com) Four categories — brisket, pulled pork, chicken and ribs — will be judged blind by a panel of four to six trained barbecue judges, according to the rules page. (visitstpeteclearwater.com) That same page says attendees will also be able to weigh in through the People’s Choice portion. ### What should visitors know before they go? All ages are welcome, and children 10 and younger get in free with a paid guardian, according to the ticketing page. (tampabaybarbecue.com) The event is listed as rain or shine, with no refunds or exchanges. Chairs, blankets and sealed water are allowed, according to the FAQ page. Bags and purses are allowed but will be searched, while coolers, outside alcohol and most outside drinks are barred. (tampabaybarbecue.com) The FAQ also says re-entry is limited to VIP ticket holders and that tickets will be sold at the gate, though prices may increase. Dogs are allowed if leashed and cared for by their owners, according to the Visit St. (eventliveus.com) Pete-Clearwater page. ### Where can people find the schedule and tickets? The festival website has separate pages for schedule, food, competition details, FAQ and tickets. The schedule page says programming is subject to change. (tampabaybarbecue.com) Sunday, May 24, is the festival’s final day, running from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Vinoy Park, according to the official info page. Tickets, entry details and updated vendor information are posted on the organizer’s website. (visitstpeteclearwater.com) (tampabaybarbecue.com) (tampabaybarbecue.com)