The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival takes over Downtown Chandler on March 24

Saturday, March 24th from noon-8pm, The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival will take over Downtown Chandler for their third annual BBQ event. With a lineup of over 15 local barbeque restaurants (serving over 20,000 pounds of meat) and more than 300 kegs of craft beer, it seems as if it’s a que-lover’s mecca.

Doubling their event space from last year, the festival will span the entire AJ Chandler Park East and West as well as connecting Arizona Ave., which will be closed from Buffalo St. to Boston St. for the festivities. In addition to BBQ and beer, event-goers will enjoy live entertainment (it’s been said that the event will include two national headlining bands that are soon to be announced), a kid’s zone, farmers’ market and pie eating, wing eating and bratwurst eating competitions. Wear your Thanksgiving Day stretchy pants!

BBQ vendors participating this year include Honey Bears BBQ, Tom’s BBQ, Steel City BBQ, Catalina BBQ Company, Sally’s BBQ, Bill Johnson’s Big Apple, Chandler BBQ Company, McReynolds Farms, Jed’z BBQ Company, AZ BBQ Club, Brown Bear BBQ and more. The beer lineup includes the likes of SanTan Brewing Company, Sonoran Brewing, Grand Canyon Brewing, Papago Brewing and Thunder Canyon Brewing.

Admission to attend is $10 per person. Children 12 and under are free. Bashas’ will offer $8 admission tickets on sale at all Valley locations February, while supplies last. Food and beverages will be sold separately by vendors on a cash basis. The event’s organizers have encouraged BBQ vendors to offer $2 samples and $4 small plates, though pricing is up to the discretion of the participants. Some vendors will offer full servings for $6-$10.

For more event information and to purchase tickets, visit chandlerbbq.com. Like them on Facebook for entertainment announcements, a chance to win free tickets, and more event details as they are announced.