By Rebecca Worthington | Photo Editor

The weather wasn’t the only thing heating up downtown this weekend.

Main Street turned into a barbecue block party with a barbecue cook-off and an impressive musical lineup. 

I have been going to BBQ Fest for the past few years and have never seen crowds so enthralled by the music. I expected the festival to be all about barbecue but I was more drawn to the musical stages. You might come for the barbecue but you stay for the entertainment. 

In its 15th year, the festival pulled out all the stops. On either end of downtown, two professional-grade stages glistened and boomed. 

The festival’s two headliners were rising country artists Jameson Rodgers and TikTok sensation Priscilla Block. 

On Friday night, crowd goers were excited for Block to perform. Fans lined up at the barricade nearly four hours before she performed and were seen decked out in the country artist’s merch. You couldn’t miss the bright neon construction vests, which I later learned are a part of Block’s brand. 

Fan commitment continued Saturday night when Jameson Rodgers fans flocked in with their cowboy hats. The festival staff threw light-up bracelets into the crowd and luckily, I managed to catch one. 

The blinking bracelets were a fun, small detail that added to the experience. A 10/10 free souvenir and who knows, the bracelet battery probably will never die. I might take it to next year’s festival. 

At the other end of the fest, I could hear the fans screaming every lyric. There was not a lyric missed by the vibrant crowds. 

Aside from the headliners, there were many local bands. A local jam band, Big Boy Changes, featured several Arkansas State University students and alumni gracing the main stage. 

I find it awesome that festival organizers bring in huge music names but also spotlight local talents right here in Jonesboro and at A-State. 

The festival also featured a barbecue cook-off, offering $13,000 in prize money for the barbecue contestants. The contest is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. The grand winner will move on to the national invitational. 

Main Street was overflowing with bustling festival goers, food stalls and trucks, crafts vendors and alluring aromas of smoky barbecue and brisket. It was hard to decide which food truck to buy from but I settled on Trauma Hogs BBQ. 

I have seen their food truck around Jonesboro for some time and decided to try them out. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which was great. The sandwich had a great flavor, so I’ll be taking a trip to their storefront in Brookland, Arkansas. 

Littered between food trucks and music stages were many small businesses. Selling everything from homemade artworks to resold merchandise, there was something for everyone to take home. 

The festival had a great atmosphere, good food and good music. The fundamentals of a great festival. It is safe to say BBQ Fest is my favorite festival Jonesboro has to offer. 

Jonesboro’s BBQ Fest continues to impress the community and prove it is the top festival northeast Arkansas has to offer. I’m excited to see who they bring in to perform for our community next year. 

Categories: Arts & Entertainment

Tags: concert, festival, Photo