Eight years ago, Fountain Valley was selected to host the Orange County Barbecue Bonanza, four days of mega slabs of ribs, beef briskets, pulled pork and buckets of barbecue sauce.
The event was staged at the Fountain Valley Sports Park for two years, before it moved to Long Beach.
Well, guess what? It’s back – as in baby back ribs.
The barbecue blast returns to Fountain Valley in August with a new name — the 2019 BBQ Music Fest – and will run for three days, Aug. 16-18. If you have vacation plans but you crave grilled meat, you may want to change those plans.
The event will feature live entertainment from local bands, a food court (including non-barbecue items), cantinas, arts and crafts, a children’s area and more.
You will be able to purchase and sample chicken, pulled pork, tri-tip, pork ribs, sausages and sides.
While you’re there, you can get a free souvenir photo, catch a game at the live sports tent, enjoy the karaoke lounge with a live band and pig out at the “All-You-Can-Eat VIP Rib Village.”
Award-winning national barbecue pit masters such as Blazin’ Broncos (Ohio), Porky-N-Beans (Florida), Git-R-Smoked (Nevada) and Rasta Joe BBQ (Indiana) are expected to bring their barbecue teams here. Also expected are several local barbecue teams, including Smoking Ribs (Garden Grove) and Q Smokehouse (Long Beach).
They’ll all be competing for the “Best BBQ” title and the “People’s Choice Favorite.”
General admission is $10.
The VIP Rib Village, a fenced area under a huge canopy tent, is $99 for adults, $35 for children (ages 10-16) and $18 for kids age 9 and under.
VIP Village attendees get all-you-can-eat pork ribs, as well as tastes of barbecue chicken, pulled pork, sides and desserts, and five drinks (beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages). Admission includes the $10 general admission. You must be 21 or older to be served alcohol, and proper identification will be required.
Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18.
For more information, go to bbqmusicfest.com/tickets.