It’s BBQ, It’s Barrels, It’s Free Live Music—What Exactly Are We Complaining About Again, Owensboro?

Okay. Hear me out. I think it's time to move on and stop complaining about the "International Bar-B-Q Festival." Look! I fully understand the nod and devotion to nostalgia. I am from Owensboro originally and remember that festival vividly. I remember it so well that I know it hasn't gone anywhere.

A few years back, Owensboro's beloved International Bar-B-Q Festival underwent a bit of a makeover, a strategic rebranding. It's now BBQ and Barrels and folks are apparently having a difficult time with the name. Any social media post the City of Owensboro makes about the event is met with almost immediate backlash and complaining. As a friend of mine, who works for the city, said, "I can't read the comments." You know what? She shouldn't have to. She and countless others have worked (and volunteered) to bring an amazing, unforgettable experience to Owensboro.

See, some folks adamantly refuse to come downtown for the 'festival' because they miss what it used to be. Again, the understandable nod to days gone by.  I get it, but, respectfully, it's time to get over it.

I remember the early days of the International Bar-B-Q Festival. Honestly, that changed over time too. The festival was infinitely different in the early 80s than it was in the mid 2000s. Change is inevitable and, more often than not, change is good. BBQ and Barrels is just the latest step in this festival's evolution and, frankly, its incredible. BBQ and Barrels has elevated many aspects of the best parts of the two-day event.

The musical entertainment is a prime example. Last year, country music star Chris Janson headlined the finale concert. This year, 90s country icon Clay Walker came to town to close out the event.

Rising country star Drew Baldridge opened for him.

BBQ and Barrels isn't charging admission for these shows. They're free! But, guess what? National caliber talent doesn't play for free. I work in this industry and I know how expensive it is to stage concerts like this. We're incredibly fortunate that we get to go downtown, put out out bag chairs, and enjoy exceptional live music without paying for it. It's now part of the BBQ and Barrels experience.

We still have church teams. Granted, there aren't as many as there used to be. That's simply what Father Time will do the volunteer base that comprises those teams. The truth is some churches just don't have the man and woman power to set up shop for two days. But over the weekend, we had five church teams that did. They cooked, and served, and celebrated, and carried on the 'festival' tradition that dates back to 1979.

Precious Blood sold out of their Friday chickens by about 4pm. They had to go get some more.

Immaculate was 'Blackstoning' the holy hell out of the most ridiculously good bologna I have ever eaten.

Jerry Morris and John Kirkpatrick (from St. Mary of the Woods) grabbed a full slab of ribs out of a warming cooler, carved it up and handed out samples to people walking by. That exemplifies the spontaneity and tastiness of BBQ and Barrels.

Paul Howard, from Blessed Mother, was serving up smoked BBQ French fries and tater tots.

The folks from Our Lady of Lourdes had their big ole burgoo kettles set up streetside and IYKYK (if you know, you know).

Plus, there have been some exciting new additions to BBQ and Barrels. First, the 50/50 Half Pot Raffle celebrated its second year. Hopefully, that will literally and figuratively continue to grow.

And, how about this year's BBQ Blueprint? There were over 20 different vendors and food trucks that each created a BBQ specialty dish to serve during the event. If you stubbornly stayed at home, you can see some of those highlights at the end of this story. Spoiler alert, we didn't have that kind of creativity or those kinds of resources back in the 80s.

I'm proud of the City of Owensboro and BBQ and Barrels for staging this event. I'm proud of my friends- a bunch of 'em- who work in the city's special events department, who represent the church teams, who tend bar, who work for The Eric Group, who sell raffle tickets, who compete in the Backyard Cookoff, who patrol the streets, who own downtown businesses and take those businesses outside to the streets for two days. It takes a village to entertain the village and that's exactly what they did over the weekend at BBQ and Barrels.

I was going to begin this story with "People, this is why we can't have nice things." But the truth is, Owensboro really does have nice things. I encourage you to hold onto those memories you have from the International Bar-B-Q Festival. I certainly cherish my own. But, I challenge you quit complaining and come make new memories at BBQ and Barrels. I guarantee you they'll be delicious and just as enduring.