This is New York. There are blocks upon block upon blocks within our grid. Each and every one of them brings a different vibe and in some cases, a different party. Let us assure you that there is no party like this one. The event that we’re about to introduce is perhaps New York City’s greatest block party. Ever. Maybe that’s why it’s been happening for 16 years. What else could we be talking about but the Annual Big Apple BBQ! If you want a recap, just check out our visit from last year.
The Big Apple Barbecue returns to Madison Square Park for its 16th Anniversary the weekend of June 9th & 10th. For the past 15 years, this free, weekend-long meat fest has brought you the best barbecue from around the country to NYC. Lets not forget about the live music, beer and wine gardens to boot. Oh, and its for a good cause, benefiting the Madison Square Park Conservancy. A good deed makes all the gluttony feel better. In addition to all the wonderful sights, smells, tastes, and sounds, the Big Apple Barbecue has remained true to its original charitable mission, with proceeds benefitting the Madison Square Park Conservancy. To date, the festival has donated $1.6 million to the Madison Square Park Conservancy to support its beautiful gardens, amenities, world-class art, and civic programming.
NYC’s biggest BBQ party was started in 2002 by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group and had evolved from a single-street affair on 27th Street to a large-scale annual festival. This year’s event will be June 9th & 10th and the lineup will include 16 pitmaster teams representing some of the biggest barbecue legends from across the country (including Texas’s The Salt Lick, Charleston’s Rodney Scott, Alabama’s Chris Lilly, and Nashville’s Pat Martin), along with star butchers Jocelyn Guest and Erica Nakamura (formerly of NYC’s White Gold).
Come one, come all to join in this trip around the barbecue belt in the heart of Manhattan. The 2018 lineup is all about the legends: 16 pitmaster teams from nine states plus a duo of star butchers, representing the pinnacle of BBQ greatness in honor of the Big Apple Barbecue’s Sweet 16.
True to its roots, The Big Apple Barbecue remains a free festival, open-to-all and tickets are not required. Barbecue, beer, wine, sweets, and sides are available for purchase throughout the event, Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM – 6 PM.
Die hard ’cue connoisseurs who want to bypass the crowds can snag a coveted FastPass, on sale now. Each FastPass pair ($125) guarantees exclusive access for two to the express lanes throughout the weekend, and includes a value of $100 towards food, beverages, and merchandise throughout the weekend (redeemable onsite). To really make the most of the weekend, the Big Rig VIP Pass ($275) includes a FastPass plus a pair of credentials to an open bar VIP “Pit” Stop inside Madison Square Park. Trust us, it’s well worth it. For tickets and more information, visit bigapplebbq.org.