This August, enjoy the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Cary, North Carolina. If beer, bourbon, BBQ, and sunshine sound like your idea of a good time, then mark your calendar for Saturday, August 3rd, 2025. The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is heading back to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, and it’s a summer dream come true. I’ve gone before, and let me tell you—this event is so much more than just meat and drinks (though there’s plenty of both).
What to Expect
I’m already craving a pulled pork slider in one hand and a small-batch bourbon in the other. Let me tell you why this festival is a smoky, savory must-visit: the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Cary is featuring over 60 beers, 40 bourbons, and all the pit-cooked BBQ your Southern heart can handle. It’s a smoky paradise at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, where the air is thick with hickory, and the vibe is deliciously laid-back. You can expect slow-cooked brisket, saucy ribs, tender pulled pork, and all the fixings from some of the best pitmasters around. Whether you’re a fan of tangy Carolina-style BBQ or a sweet Kansas City sauce purist, your taste buds are about to embark on a journey. And yes, there are vegetarian sides and craft vendors too, but let’s be honest—this festival is mainly about the meat and the drinks.
Live Music, Lawn Games, and More!
If you have good food and good drinks, you’ll want some good entertainment to go along with it. No festival is complete without entertainment, and Beer, Bourbon & BBQ certainly delivers. Enjoy live rock and blues bands that will have you dancing on the lawn all night long. There’s so much to experience here, including seminars in the Tasting Theater featuring Master Distillers, Brewmasters, and Pit Masters from the Deep South. Additionally, there will be an enhanced New Gaming Area where you can unleash your inner child—go ahead, no one is watching! (Take a peek at a past event here.)
Tickets + Pricing
- Grand Poobah: ticket includes both days, Friday Night VIP 6 pm – 10 pm, and Saturday VIP – 12 pm-6 pm. These limited tickets will allow guests to partake in both days and all sessions. In addition to all sessions, these guests will enjoy a Goodie Bag of Swag (t-shirt, lanyard, and more) with admission and Express Entry into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, a dinner ticket for Friday night, and all live entertainment. This ticket is available for one person for two days.
- Friday VIP: 6 pm – 10 pm – This Friday Night Session offers an exclusive tasting experience where each guest will enjoy a Barbecue Dinner Platter, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, and all live entertainment.
- Friday General Admission: 6 pm – 10 pm – This Friday Night Session offers an exclusive tasting experience where each guest will enjoy a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, and all live entertainment.
- Saturday VIP: 12 pm – 6 pm – This VIP ticket includes 2 extra hours of sampling, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, and all live entertainment.
- Saturday General Admission: 2 pm – 6 pm – This ticket includes a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, and all live entertainment.
Final Thoughts
The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is one of Cary’s juiciest annual traditions—and I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re coming for the barbecue, staying for the bourbon, or just want a good excuse to dance barefoot on the grass with a cold beer in hand, this is your kind of Saturday. Bring your friends, come hungry, and let the smoky summer vibes take over. You’ll leave full, a little tipsy, and probably Googling smoker recipes on your way home. You can purchase your tickets here—don’t wait too long, they tend to sell out fast!
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
With Love,
Lex Paige
