Schedule

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• september 6, 2019
• 5:00pm Doors Open5:00pm- 10:00pm

  Day 1 of the Kentucky BBQ Festival runs from 5pm to 10pm.
• 5:30PM VIP EVENT - Whiskey Business (Paid Event.)5:30PM- 10:00PM

  VIP Event – Whiskey Business – making the 80s great again! What you get: Food+Music+Bourbon – Whole Hog buffet by Mike “The Legend” Mills @17ST BBQ – 2nd annual Special Edition Bourbon bottle from our hosts Wilderness Trail Distillery – Live entertainment by Paul Childers and his band – Music all night – 2 Drink tickets – 3-day Fast-Pass to the event Whiskey Business Pass = $150 per person – limited to 200. NOTE: this event will sell out quickly – get your ticket to guarantee a spot!
• 6:00pm MUSIC: The Ranahans6:00pm- 7:30pm

  THE RANAHANS based out of Lexington KY have brought to life the Fiddle and Steel driven sounds of Traditional Country & Western Swing music while embracing the roots of American Blues, Swing, Bluegrass and Rockabilly.
• 8:30pm MUSIC: Frontier8:30pm- 10:00pm

  Energy. Honesty. Originality. Frontier is a harmony-driven rock band from Kentucky whose unique sound defies the trends of today’s music. With meaningful lyrics, signature blood-harmonies, and inventive pop-rock music, Frontier makes no attempt to blend in. Influences such as John Mayer, The Police, and Eric Clapton bleed together into the band’s addictive sound and style.
• september 7, 2019
• 8:00am 5k and Little Ribs 1k Run8:00am- 11:00am

  An early morning 5k run.
• 9:00am Backyard BBQ Competition9:00am- Until its over

  It’s time to roll out the smokers and grills in preparation for the Backyard BBQ Competition. This year’s event will be more competitive than ever so bring your “A game” along with the rack of ribs of your choice and be ready to throw down in downtown! Bragging rights and BIG – BIG ASS trophies are up for grabs to the winners! This year’s event will be more competitive than ever so bring your “A game” along with the rack of ribs of your choice and be ready to throw down in downtown! Bragging rights and BIG – BIG ASS trophies are up for grabs to the winners! We’re bringing back the One Bite Competition and adding a Steak Competition.
• 10:00am Smokin' Butt Bike Ride10:00am- Until its over

  Get your pedals fired up.
• 11:00am Day 2: Doors Open11:00am- 10:00pm

  Day 2 of the 2019 Kentucky BBQ Kicks Off.
• 11:00am Tim Mikiska Pitmaster11:00am- 12:00pm

  Tim Mikeska is CEO of Mikeska’s Bar-B-Q Inc. and owns Mikeska Brands. Raised in Taylor Texas, and son of the dean of Texas Pitmasters, Rudy Mikeska, Tim learned to cook at an early age and grew up making sausage and catering Texas Bar-B-Q with his father.
• 11:30am Bourbon and BBQ Pairing (Paid Event.)11:30am- 12:30am

  Presenter Steve Coomes, Bourbon+ magazine contributor In a recent Bourbon+ Magazine, noted food and drinks writer Steve Coomes wrote a 10-page feature about how to best pair Bourbon with barbecue. What he learned surprised him. In this demo, Steve will pair Wilderness Trail Bourbon and rye with various barbecue cuts, while explaining why Bourbon and barbecue are a match made in heaven (in case you needed more proof!) You won’t want to miss this savory adventure.
• 12:00pm Mike Mills Whole Hog Presentation12:00pm- Until its over.

  In the world of barbecue, Mike Mills is a living legend. Inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2010, his 17th Street Barbecue joints in Southern Illinois are a keystone pilgrimage for the barbecue faithful and Memphis Championship BBQ.
• 12:45pm Barrel Finish12:45pm- 1:30pm

  Barrel Finish.
• 1:00pm MUSIC: Dustin Collins1:00pm- 2:30pm

  Country music artist: #25 @Billboard Country Albums #1 @billboard.
• 2:00pm Bourbon 1012:00pm- 3:00pm

  Presenter Susan Reigler, Bourbon+ magazine contributor and Bourbon author Learn how Bourbon is made, how to taste and a touch of history in this educational seminar. You won’t walk away an expert, but you will be able to hold your own in a Bourbon conversation.
• 2:30pm Drinking Straight from the Barrel (Paid Event.)2:30pm- 4:00pm

  Moderated by Kevin Gibson, writer for Bourbon+ magazine, with Wilderness Trail tasting team When you walk into a liquor store, you’re no doubt seeing the terms, “barrel proof” or “cask strength.” In this informative discussion and tasting, Bourbon+ writers and Wilderness Trail team members elaborate on the virtues of getting bourbon straight from the barrel. After all, you can always add water. But can you get your proof back when it’s bottled at 80 proof?
• 3:00pm MUSIC: Soupbone3:00pm- 4:30pm

  Soupbone blues band covers a wide variety of classic rhythm & blues ranging from King to Clapton to Hendrix and beyond.
• 4:45pm Backyard BBQ Competition Awards4:45pm- 5:00pm

  Awards for the Backyard BBQ Competition will be announced.
• 5:15pm Door Prize Drawings5:15pm- 5:30pm

  Door Prize Drawings
• 6:00pm Saturday Night BBQ Bash6:00pm- 10:00pm

  The evening rolls on.
• 6:00PM MUSIC: HI - 56:00PM- 7:30PM

  The members of Hi-5 come from all walks of life and different musical experiences. We have merged our love and passion for music into a high level band. Excellent vocals and great instrumentalists are our calling card. All of the members of Hi-5 are seasoned professionals with 40+ years of experience and have developed a high energy show that includes Rock, Country, Motown and Funk.
• 8:30PM MUSIC: Petty Nicks Experience8:30PM- 10:00PM

  Recreating the magic of Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks Music.
• 3:30pm Bourbon and BBQ (Paid Event.)3:30pm- 4:30pm

  Presenter Steve Coomes, Bourbon+ magazine contributor In a recent Bourbon+ Magazine, noted food and drinks writer Steve Coomes wrote a 10-page feature about how to best pair Bourbon with barbecue. What he learned surprised him. In this demo, Steve will pair Wilderness Trail Bourbon and rye with various barbecue cuts, while explaining why Bourbon and barbecue are a match made in heaven (in case you needed more proof!) You won’t want to miss this savory adventure.
• september 8, 2019
• 11:00AM Doors Open11:00AM- 6:00PM

  Day 3 of the Kentucky BBQ Festival.
• 12:00PM VIP Bloody Mary Brunch (Paid Event.)12:00PM- 2:00PM

  Bloody Marys+Sunday Brunch+Bloody Mary Class – Sunday Brunch Buffet – Bloody Mary bar – Featuring UBON’s Bloody Mary mix + WTD Blue Heron Vodka – Bottle of WTD Blue Heron Vodka AND a bottle of Ubon’s Bloody Mary mix – Bloody Mary Class on how to make the Ultimate Bloody with Bloody Expert, Leslie Roark Scott from Ubon’s Bloody Mary Mix Bloody Mary Pass = $100 per person – limited to 100. NOTE: This event will sell out quickly – get your ticket to guarantee a spot!
• 12:00pm Mike Mills Whole Hog Presentation12:00pm- Until its over.

  In the world of barbecue, Mike Mills is a living legend. Inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2010, his 17th Street Barbecue joints in Southern Illinois are a keystone pilgrimage for the barbecue faithful and Memphis Championship BBQ.
• 12:45PM Let's Have Rye12:45PM- 1:30PM

  Presenter Steve Coomes, Bourbon+ magazine contributor and author. You know about Bourbon. Now, learn about rye, a beautiful whiskey that's growing in popularity across the globe.
• 1:00PM MUSIC: Zella May1:00PM- 2:00PM

  Join us as Zella May ROCKS Danville, KY at the KY State BBQ Festival at Wilderness Trail Distillery with their up and coming new music. Ky's BEST BBQ, Bourbon & Hard Hitting Rock 'n' Roll.... "TIME".....to Unleash this Beast Pat Heist (Wilderness Trail Distillery Co-Founder and Master Distiller) - Lead Vocals Darrell Gibson - Lead Guitar Doug Collins - Drums Tony Sell - Bass
• 2:30PM MUSIC: Ben Lacy2:30PM- 4:00PM

  Ben has played locally in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky with many bands, ranging in styles from jazz/funk to dance to metal. Around 2000, Ben became a solo act, but still enjoys a duet with Bob Bryant, bass extraordinaire. The duo has had the honor of opening for Tower of Power twice in Kentucky. Outside of Kentucky Ben has performed around North America and in Europe.
• 3:45pm A Legend Returns: Jim Rutledge with Fred Minnick3:45pm- 4:30pm

  After retiring from Four Roses, the iconic master distiller Jim Rutledge, had the itch to get back into Bourbon. In this Q&A, Jim talks about his new plans, his new brand (Cream of Kentucky) and we’ll taste a little of his new whiskey.
• 4:15pm Hog Calling Contest4:15pm- Until its over.

  Yeah, just what it sounds like.
• 4:45pm Bean Eating Contest4:45pm- Until the last bean is gone

  Yeah, just what it sounds like.
• 5:15pm Presentation to PItmasters5:15pm- 5:45pm

  The winners are announced.
• 5:30pm Door Prizes and Raffle Drawings5:30pm- 6:00pm

  Door prizes and raffle drawings will wrap up the 2019 Kentucky BBQ Festival.