NC barbecue festival marks milestone year with big name chefs and pitmasters
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- Pinehurst BBQ Festival marks its fifth year with events from Aug. 29-31, 2025.
- Festival features James Beard chefs, cooking classes, and bourbon pairings.
- Sunday's Pitmaster Invitational showcases six standout NC barbecue talents.
Pinehurst is used to hosting some of the biggest events in North Carolina — and now that includes barbecue.
The Pinehurst BBQ Festival marks its fifth year this month, emerging as one of the state’s best showcases of pitmaster talent. Organized in part by Prime BBQ owner Christopher Prieto, this year’s festival will show off the chefy side of barbecue.
“Just like a wedding anniversary, for year five you’ve got to pull out all the stops,” Prieto said.
For this year, that includes a list of accomplished pitmasters and chefs with James Beard recognition.
When is the Pinehurst BBQ Festival?
Pinehurst BBQ Festival is a three-day event (Friday, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Aug. 31) throughout Pinehurst.
There are gourmet dinners, cooking classes and a Sunday smorgasbord of some of the best pitmasters in North Carolina. The Sunday flagship event is called the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational.
“My idea at first was to showcase only North Carolina pitmasters,” Prieto said about building the event’s barbecue roster. “I wanted to bring forward pitmasters who havent gotten their opportunity in the spotlight. Of course that list is getting shorter and shorter now that everyone is getting their recognition.”
Pinehurst BBQ menu
The festival kicks off Friday with the High on the Hog gourmet dinner led by Southern Smoke owner Matthew Register out of Garland. The dinner features a dozen different Southern dishes and desserts.
On Saturday, Prieto will lead a morning barbecue class, followed by two evening events. There’s a bourbon and barbecue pairing, including six different whiskies and dishes.
Saturday also features one of the festivals marquee events for 2025, the “Barbecue Reimagined” dinner, where eight North Carolina chefs from across the state will serve up new perspectives on barbecue. In the lineup are James Beard nominee Preeti Waas, and Greenville chef Luke Owens.
Borrowing the “invitational” lingo from the golf world typically at home in Pinehurst, Sunday’s signature barbecue tasting includes six pitmasters and North Carolina’s most famous chef, James Beard winner Ashley Christensen, who will serve smoked blue crab and grits.
Other pitmasters, each serving a fully composed barbecue dish, include:
- Benjie Ayala of Pinehurst Brewing in Pinehurst
- Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s in Charlotte
- Adam Hughes of Old Colony Smokehouse in Edenton
- Christopher Prieto of Prime BBQ in Knightdale
- Matthew Register of Southern Smoke in Garland
- Ron Simmons of Master Blend Family Farms in Kenansville
“That’s the appeal of the festival,” Prieto said. “You’ve got all your favorite pitmasters in one location. Or maybe you haven’t had a weekend to get out to Old Colony or Sweet Lew’s. Now you can try it all at this festival.”
Pinehurst BBQ Festival 2025 tickets
Tickets for Pinehurst Barbecue Festival range by event, from $65 for general admission to Sunday’s pitmaster invitational, to $289.75 for entry to every event all weekend.
For tickets and more information, visit pinehurstbarbecuefestival.com.
Best barbecue in the Triangle
Who serves the best barbecue in the Triangle? For The News & Observer’s August food and dining poll, we’ll looking to find the Triangle’s favorite barbecue joint. Readers shared some of their favorites, we added a few can’t-miss spots of our own.
Check out all the joints in the running and vote for your favorite at newsobserver.com/living/food-drink.
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM with the headline "NC barbecue festival marks milestone year with big name chefs and pitmasters."
