Win Big Money and Rare Bourbons At Owensboro’s Exciting BBQ Barrels Raffle

We're a month away from Owensboro's popular BBQ & Barrels festival, which is a tasty two-day celebration of BBQ, bourbon, live music, and more. Of course, The City of Owensboro recently announced rising country music star Chase Matthew as this year's headliner.

READ MORE: Chase Matthew Headlines BBQ and Barrels in Owensboro, KY

Chase will be closing out the event with a FREE concert on the front lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center on Saturday, May 9th.

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For the last couple of years, there has been another really fun addition to BBQ & Barrels. Inspired by the success of the 50/50 half pot at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival across the river in Evansville, Indiana, city officials here launched the BBQ & Barrels 50/50. This year, there's even more incentive to get your tickets and to buy them early.

New for 2026 is an early bird drawing with a bunch of prizes up for grabs. In keeping with the theme of the festival, officials have curated quite a collection of bourbons you could win!

EARLY BIRD PRIZE

Heaven Hill: Heritage Collection 22-Year-Old Bourbon (129.2 proof), an ultra-aged limited release (originally retailing at $349)

Buffalo Trace: Weller CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) — rare, hard-to-find and no longer available in retail

Jefferson’s: Rare 10-Year Bourbon crafted in collaboration with award-winning chef Edward Lee (no longer available for purchase)

Western Kentucky Distilling Co.: 7-Year Single Barrel (121 proof)

Silt Velvet: 6-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley)

Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon (90 proof)

O.H. Ingram Distillery (Columbus, KY):  River-Aged Bourbon, utilizing the floating rickhouse

In addition to those bottles of bourbon that you could win, there's also a 2-night weekend stay in an Executive Suite at the Hampton Inn Owensboro Riverfront.

To be eligible for the prizes above, you need to purchase your BBQ & Barrel 50/50 tickets before Thursday, April 30th. And, it doesn't matter if you win an early bird prize. You'll still be eligible for the 50/50 raffle grand prize!

2026 TICKET PRICES

3 tickets for $10
20 tickets for $20
60 tickets for $40
180 tickets for $100

You can purchase your tickets here--> https://bbqandbarrels5050.com/

One important note. Online tickets can only be purchased if you are in Kentucky. However, anyone can purchase tickets on site at BBQ and Barrels Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th.

Ticket sales for the early bird prizes will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 29. Winners will be announced on April 30. Ticket sales for the 50/50 raffle will close at 11:59pm on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The winning number will be drawn on Monday, May 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM, and will be announced on bbqandbarrels.com. The winner has 30 days to claim their prize. The owner of the winning ticket is responsible for submitting their ticket and completing the Winner Claim Form between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM central time at 101 E. 4th St., Owensboro, KY 42303. Winner must provide a valid government issued ID in addition to a printed ticket or printed email from online raffle ticket purchase for verification. If the prize remains unclaimed after 30 days, a new draw will take place. International Bar-B-Que Festival, Inc. License No. ORG-0002869)