24 February 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Houston Barbecue Festival Returns for Its 12th Year with Award-Winning Pitmasters and Unforgettable Flavors
Photos for media use:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/houstonfoodie/albums/72177720324002130
Video for media use:
https://youtu.be/eUU3ugEKsRE?si=eLlQl3hzD0J1zo2v
Overview of previous festivals:
https://houbbq.com/festivals/
Tickets:
https://houbbq2025.eventbrite.com
When/where: Sunday, 6 April 2025, 1-4pm at the Humble Civic Center Arena Complex, 8233 Will Clayton Pkwy, Humble, TX 77338.
Houston, TX – Get ready, barbecue lovers! On April 6th, the Houston Barbecue Festival is back, celebrating 12 years of smoky, mouthwatering tradition. This annual event showcases the passion, dedication, and craft of Houston’s top pitmasters, drawing fans from near and far for an unforgettable culinary experience.
A Star-Studded Barbecue Affair
This year’s festival is literally star-studded. Seven participating barbecue joints recently received recognition from the Michelin Guide, including the rare and prestigious one-star award granted to CorkScrew BBQ in Spring. That’s not all – Houston’s barbecue scene continues to shine with numerous additional accolades, from Texas Monthly’s Top 50 list to the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 rankings.
Adding even more fire to the lineup, this year’s special guest is none other than Burnt Bean Co. from Seguin. Led by renowned pitmasters Ernest Servantes and Dave Kirkland, Burnt Bean Co. has been making waves in the barbecue world, earning Michelin Guide and James Beard recognition, as well as landing the #4 spot in Texas Monthly’s latest Top 50 list.
More Than Just Barbecue – A Celebration of Community
“The recent recognition for Houston’s barbecue joints is both welcome and well-deserved,” says festival co-founder J.C. Reid. “But beyond the awards, we want to honor the pitmasters and restaurant owners who pour their heart and soul into their craft every day. Supporting these small businesses and bringing Houston’s barbecue community together is what this festival is all about.”
2025 Festival Lineup
This year’s festival, presented by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, will feature a star-studded roster of legendary and up-and-coming pitmasters. Attendees can look forward to sampling from an all-star lineup, including:
1701 Barbecue, Bar-A-BBQ, Blood Bros BBQ, Brett’s BBQ Shop, The Brisket House, Burns Original BBQ, Burnt Bean Co., CorkScrew BBQ, Daddy Duncan’s BBQ, Feges BBQ, Fire Craft BBQ, Gatlin’s BBQ, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Henderson & Kane, Hongdae 33 KBBQ, J-Bar-M Barbecue, La Cruda Brand BBQ, Lenox Bar-B-Q, Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue, Pinkerton’s Barbecue, Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, Ray’s BBQ Shack, Redbird BBQ, Reveille Barbecue Co., Roegels Barbecue Co., Rosemeyer BBQ, Southern Q BBQ, Tejas Chocolate & BBQ, The Pit Room, Tin Roof BBQ, True Texas BBQ, and Truth BBQ.
Additional barbecue joints may be announced leading up to the event.
Get Tickets Before They’re Gone!
To ensure a quality experience, ticket sales are limited, and all tickets must be purchased online in advance – no sales at the gate. Given the festival’s history of selling out before the event, guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.
Tickets are on sale now at https://houbbq2025.eventbrite.com. Pre-sale discounts are available for a limited time:
General Admission: $60 (Regular Price: $80)
VIP Admission: $120 (Regular Price: $160) – Includes one drink ticket, festival T-shirt, and 12pm early entry one hour before general admission.
All tickets include entry into the festival and unlimited sample portions from each participating barbecue joint. A bar featuring craft and national beers will be available for attendees to purchase drinks.
Festival Partners
The 2025 Houston Barbecue Festival is proudly supported by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Pitts & Spitts, and Aegis Insurance.
Join us for an epic day of smoked meats, incredible flavors, and the best of Texas barbecue. Don’t miss your chance to taste history in the making!
Media contacts:
J.C. Reid
Michael Fulmer
[email protected]
houbbq.com
832.454.6106
twitter/instagram/tiktok: @houbbq
www.facebook.com/HoustonBarbecueFestival
About the Houston Barbecue Festival: J.C. Reid and Michael Fulmer launched the first Houston Barbecue Festival in 2013 to celebrate and promote the talent and hard work of family-owned Houston and Texas barbecue restaurants. 2025 will mark the 12th year of the festival in which a focus on guest and vendor experience has established it as one of the premier barbecue festivals in the country. J.C. Reid is the barbecue columnist for the Houston Chronicle.
About Goodstock by Nolan Ryan: Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan has also been a proud rancher for almost 50 years. Wanting to build on his life-long passion for ranching, he opened Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, a boutique butcher shop in Round Rock, in 2020. Since its opening, Goodstock has grown from a destination butcher shop to a key partner within the restaurant industry and can now be found in over 200 eateries across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado. Goodstock, which serves Goodstock Angus and Goodstock Prime beef, is under Nolan Ryan Brands; the parent company for Nolan Ryan Beef (Nolan Ryan Texas Angus Beef and Nolan Ryan 34 Prime Beef), sold exclusively at Kroger stores and ballparks across Texas. For more information on Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, visit www.goodstocktx.com, email [email protected], and follow along on Facebook (@GoodstockTX) and Instagram (@GoodstockTX).
