Windy City Smokeout, the nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival, returns to Chicago’s iconic United Center (1901 W. Madison Street) on July 13-16, 2023. The two-time winner of the Academy of Country Music Awards “Festival of the Year,” Windy City Smokeout 2023 is a celebration for the festival’s 10th anniversary, featuring some of country music’s biggest names and up-and-coming talents.
Headliners include GRAMMY award winner Zac Brown Band, much-decorated ACM and CMA award winner Luke Bryan, GRAMMY award winner Darius Rucker, and GRAMMY award nominee Zach Bryan. The music talent is matched by some of the best craft beer and BBQ from around the country. This year’s BBQ line-up features 30 of the world’s best pitmasters, including eight new teams, offering a mix of new school and old school ‘cue dishes throughout the festival weekend.
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The full 2023 BBQ line-up includes:
RETURNING (All four days unless noted otherwise):
- Bub City – Chicago, IL
- Green Street Smoked Meats – Chicago, IL
- Hogapalooza – Wynne, AR
- Hoodoo Brown BBQ – Ridgefield, CT
- Hurtado Barbecue – Arlington, TX
- LeRoy and Lewis BBQ – Austin, TX
- Lillie’s Q – Chicago, IL
- Little Miss BBQ – Phoenix, AZ
- Meat Mitch – Leawood, KS
- Operation BBQ Relief – Kansas City, MO
- Pappy’s Smokehouse – St Louis, MO
- Pearl’s Southern Comfort – Chicago, IL
- Peg Leg Porker – Nashville, TN (SATURDAY / SUNDAY ONLY)
- Salt Lick BBQ – Driftwood, TX
- Slab Barbeque – Los Angeles, CA
- Smoke Queen Barbeque – Los Angeles, CA
- Smoque BBQ – Chicago, IL
- Soul & Smoke – Evanston, IL
- Sugarfire Smoke House – St Louis, MO
- Truth BBQ – Houston, TX
- Ubons BBQ – Yazoo City, MS
- Wright’s Barbecue – Fayetteville, AR
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NEWCOMERS (All four days unless noted otherwise):
- 3 Little Pigs – Chicago, IL (THURSDAY ONLY)
- Blues Hog – Washington, MO
- Horn Barbecue – Oakland, CA
- Joe’s Kansas City BBQ – Kansas City, KS
- Laser Wolf – Philadelphia, PA (FRIDAY ONLY)
- Lexington Betty’s – Chicago, IL
- Mama Fried – Austin, TX
- Panther City BBQ – Fort Worth, TX
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TICKETS + GENERAL INFORMATION
Festival passes are now on sale at www.windycitysmokeout.com. Tickets are currently priced as follows:
- GA Day Pass for Thursday, July 13: sold out
- GA Day Pass for Friday, July 14: $59.95
- GA Day Pass for Saturday, July 15: $79.95
- GA Day Pass for Sunday, July 16: $59.95
- VIP Day Pass for Thursday, July 13: sold out
- VIP Day Pass for Friday, July 14: $400
- VIP Day Pass for Saturday, July 15: sold out
- VIP Day Pass for Sunday, July 16: $400
- Platinum Pass for Thursday, July 13: sold out
- Platinum Pass for Friday, July 14: sold out
- Platinum Pass for Saturday, July 15: $700
- Platinum Pass for Sunday, July 16: $700
- GA Four-Day Pass: sold out
- VIP Four-Day Pass: sold out
- Platinum Four-Day Pass: sold out
*General Admission festival passes do not include food or beverage.
**VIP festival passes include access to an elevated and covered area next to the stage, complimentary mobile charging stations, air-conditioned restrooms, access to private cash bars and an official Windy City Smokeout welcome gift.
***Platinum festival passes include deluxe climate-controlled upper deck, private, and stage-pit viewing areas, complimentary mobile charging stations, VIP parking access with golf cart service to and from festival grounds, air-conditioned restrooms, top shelf beer/wine/cocktails included, curated BBQ service in private dining areas, and $25 BBQ Bucks preloaded onto wristbands
The hours for Windy City Smokeout 2023 are Thursday, July 13- Sunday, July 16: 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm. For more information and to purchase festival passes, please visit www.windy city smokeout.com, and be sure to follow all the action on Instagram at @WindyCitySmokeout and Twitter at @WCSmokeout.
Featured Image: Windy City Smokeout