After a 14-year hiatus, one of the most iconic BBQ events in the country is back and set to take over Nassau County, Long Island from June 13–15, 2025—just in time for Father’s Day Weekend. Hosted at the scenic Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, NY, the revived festival promises a full weekend of competitive ‘cue, local flavor, live entertainment, and family-friendly fun.
The centerpiece of the weekend? A massive $100,000 prize purse, one of the largest BBQ competition payouts in the country, which is expected to draw top pitmasters and competitive BBQ teams from across the globe. Attendees can expect two days of high-stakes, slow-smoked battles in categories like brisket, pork, ribs, whole hog, and more. Kicking off Friday, June 13th, the action begins with a Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) Double Steak and Ancillaries competition, featuring categories like wings, meatballs, and a signature Long Island Iced Tea contest.
Beyond the smoke, the festival is packed with activities for every type of attendee—whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster, a casual foodie, or simply looking for a summer event the whole family can enjoy. Expect live music by top headliners, culinary demos, local brews by Oyster Bay Brewing, wine pairings from Delicato Family Wines, and a BBQ marketplace filled with small-batch rubs, sauces, and artisan goods. The event will also feature an interactive arcade, a kids’ zone, and celebrity MCs, making it a full-blown BBQ experience from sunup to sundown.
More than 20,000 attendees are expected to gather for this summer’s ultimate celebration of BBQ culture and craft. Anchored by Eisenhower Park’s sprawling 950 acres—including The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater, which will serve as the main stage for musical acts and award ceremonies—the event is easily accessible via JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, MacArthur Regional Airport, and the Long Island Railroad (Westbury Station).
Thyron Mathews is set to be the official Man on the Street at the National BBQ Festival, bringing the smoke, the flavor, and the fun. He has conquered Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown, holds 16 Grand Championships, and now he’s taking on something even bigger: the mic. Whether he’s hyping up the crowd, surprising guests, or checking in with your favorite pitmasters and teams, he’ll be everywhere you want to be (and a few spots you didn’t see coming).
The National BBQ Festival will be bringing together even more of the best BBQ talent from across the country including, but not limited to:
- Tuffy Stone – 6x World BBQ Champion, Barbecue Hall of Fame inductee, and host on Destination America’s “BBQ Pitmasters”
- Warren G. – Legendary hip-hop artist, producer, and founder of Sniffin’ Griffins’ BBQ
- Al Frugoni – Argentinean pitmaster considered one of the culinary world’s most prominent open fire grilling experts
- Phil “The Grill” Johnson – 2024 World Food Champion, Food Network BBQ Showdown finalist, and owner of Trap House BBQ in Phoenix
- Rae Barker, aka The Lil’ Gringa – 2023 MasterChef Junior Champion and World Junior BBQ League World Champion
- Chef Marc Anthony Bynum – Three-time Chopped Champion and Long Island native
- Rylee Wright, aka The Steak Princess – SCA World Junior Steak Champion and one of the youngest stars in competitive BBQ
Spearheaded by RRDA, the official agency for Nassau County Tourism & Promotions, the National BBQ Festival is also supported by a lineup of incredible partners, sponsors and local businesses. Sponsors include: Barbecue News, Coca-Cola, Connoisseur Media, Delicato Family Wines, LI Pop Up, Mantis BBQ, Meater, Nassau County, Nassau County Tourism & Promotions, National Barbecue & Grilling Association, New York Post, Octagrill, Oyster Bay Brewing Company, Postmates, Renewal by Andersen, Secret Aardvark, Smokin’ Hoggz BBQ, Sydney’s Sweets, Town of Oyster Bay, Wild Bill’s Soda, and more.
Additionally, a variety of popular local businesses and food and beverage favorites will be front and center such as Better Water, Dang’s BBQ, New York Life, Oyster Bay Brewing Company, Mantis BBQ, and Backyard BBQ.
Whether you’re chasing the best brisket of your life, shopping small-batch BBQ gear, dancing under the stars, or just soaking in the smoky air with a cold drink in hand—this is the BBQ event of the year.
Tickets are on sale now at nationalbbqfest.com, where you can also find team registration info, competition categories, rules, and everything you need to plan your perfect BBQ weekend.
Follow along at @nationalbbqfest for updates, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes smoke signals.
