1. Up to 20,000 people are expected to enjoy smoked ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken from 60 BBQ companies, including East Valley restaurants Joe’s Real BBQ, Waldo’s BBQ, Honey Bear’s BBQ, and Tom’s BBQ.
2. The festival, which runs noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, will be held at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler (map). Arizona Avenue will be closed from Buffalo to Boston streets.
3. Admission is $10 online and at the gate (or $8 at any Bashas’ stores). Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Food and beverages are sold at an additional cost.
4. Cash only will be accepted at the gate. Many vendors also will accept cash only. ATMs will be available on-site.
5. Besides BBQ and beer, attractions will include a VIP lounge, a March Madness lounge, a Harley-Davidson rally, a rodeo zone with mechanical bull, a farmers market, a family zone, and an expanded kids play zone.
6. Chandler’s SanTan Brewing Company will debut its annual summer seasonal, Mr. Pineapple wheat beer. SanTan will provide all the beers at the fest.
7. Eating competitions include a chicken-wing-eating contest, a brat-eating contest, a rib-eating contest, and a pie-eating contest.
8. Blues Traveler (8-10 p.m.) headlines the music lineup. Other acts are Laura Walsh (noon-12:30 p.m.), Georgia Chrome (12:45-4:45), local battle-of-the-bands winner TBA (5-6), and Craig Campbell (6:15-7:30).
9. More than 80 non-BBQ vendors will be selling merchandise or services.
10. Parking is free. Downtown Chandler offers street parking, dirt parking lots, and parking garages.
Subscribe to the free MXSW Daily Email here for the latest news about food & drink in the Phoenix metro area.
