Fall is the perfect season for festivals in Kentucky and there's no better theme for a festive gathering than food. In Western Kentucky, one type of food stands out as a specialty favorite and the city of Paducah celebrates it in a big way each year. Barbecue on the River attracts tens of thousands of people, who follow their noses to this mouthwatering event. The festival is coming up on September 27-29, 2018 and this riverfront BBQ destination is the tastiest fall event in Kentucky.
Barbecue on the River is held each fall in Paducah and is celebrating its 24th year this September. The festival began as an idea to share the famous barbecue of Western Kentucky while raising also money for local charities. It continues today with the same missions, just on a much larger scale.
The riverfront festival expects to welcome about 40,000 visitors this year for food, drinks, entertainment, and much more. They're hoping to raise nearly half a million dollars for local charities!
Barbecue is the star of the festival and you better arrive hungry. More than 80,000 pounds of chicken and pork will be grilled, smoked, cooked, and eaten, among other tasty choices. The meat is cooked up by local restaurants, other restaurants that travel quite a ways for the festival, as well as people who are simply passionate about smoking barbecue.
The meat is served up on its own, atop sandwiches, nachos, and in other delicious ways. You can try a variety of dishes, but make sure you try enough variety to find your favorite.
Some restaurants even arrive with a whole hog, which is cooked on the spot. It's definitely a unique sight to see, and if you're a barbecue fan, there's nothing that tastes quite like it.
If you have a sweet tooth - or have a craving for other types of food - the festival has what you want and need. There are also a variety of drink choices scattered throughout the event.
All of the restaurants and individuals are making their barbecue for hungry guests to enjoy, but they are also working to win one of these trophies. Awards are given in categories such as Best Chicken, Best Pulled Pork, Best Whole Hog, Best Ribs, Best Sides, and many more.
The entertainment at the festival keeps things lively and fun and the atmosphere is great for the whole family. You can find the line up of bands performing and the entire schedule on the festival's website (linked below). There are also vendors and farmer's market items available at different times throughout the weekend.
Barbecue on the River is a favorite fall festival in Paducah that is worthy of a visit from anywhere in Kentucky. It's a great way to usher in fall, taste Western Kentucky's famous barbecue, and visit a city that's just bursting with personality.
Barbecue on the River began as a way to raise money and sample the best barbecue in Kentucky, and those roots remain strong as 40,000 people visit this fall festival each year. Have you been to this massive event in Paducah? Are you going this year? Share your experience with us in the comments!
For more information on the festival, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here.
And for more on the cool town of Paducah, check out our previous article here.
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