Barbecue competition to be held in Watkinsville
From the Watkinsville Downtown Development Authority:
The City of Watkinsville invites the community to
come hungry to Oconee’s Best BBQ Competition & Community Event on Saturday, August
29, at Rocket Field in Downtown Watkinsville.
The annual event will bring together more than
18 BBQ teams competing for bragging rights and prizes, while raising funds for Lydia’s Place, a
local nonprofit serving young adults who have experienced foster care or housing insecurity.
The festival will be open to the public from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and is free to attend. Guests can
enjoy live music from the Brandon Sears Band, free kids’ activities, games, and an evening of
community fun.
For those who want to taste the competition, BBQ tasting tickets are available for $15, with
proceeds benefiting Lydia’s Place. Tasting ticket holders will have the opportunity to sample
BBQ prepared by competing teams and help select the event’s People’s Choice winner.
Guests are encouraged to purchase tasting tickets in advance. Each pre-purchased ticket will
also include a bag of chips and bottled water. To purchase tickets, visit
lydiasplace.kindful.com and select “Oconee’s Best BBQ Contest 2026” to complete your
purchase.
The competition will feature both youth and backyard BBQ teams, with awards presented in
multiple categories, including Grand Champion, Reserve Champion and People’s Choice.
Oconee’s Best BBQ is designed to be more than a BBQ competition. Families and community
members are welcome to attend even if they do not purchase a tasting ticket. Free activities
throughout the evening will include kids’ activities, yard games and other entertainment, making
the event an easy way to spend a late-summer evening in downtown Watkinsville.
Proceeds from BBQ tasting tickets will support Lydia’s Place and its work providing basic needs
and support to young adults in Northeast Georgia.
Additional event information and ticket details can be found through the City of Watkinsville,
Downtown Watkinsville and Visit Oconee social media channels.
