Jonesboro, Ark. — Main Street will come alive this weekend with the sounds of music and the aroma of barbecue as the 17th annual Downtown Jonesboro Barbecue and Music Festival kicks off. However, attendees may notice a significant change: this year’s event will not include the Kansas City Barbeque Society cook-off.
Festival founder and organizer Tim McCall explained that the decision to pause the competition stems from space and infrastructure challenges. Ongoing construction related to the city’s new 911 dispatch center has reduced available parking and utility access for barbecue teams, who rely on the space to operate their large smoker trailers and rigs.
“The city’s doing some work over in one of the major lots that we used for our festival barbecue teams, and so we’re kind of cut down on the number of teams we could have,” McCall said. “When you start thinking about return on investment and everything, it just seemed logical to wait one year.”
With fewer teams able to compete, McCall noted that hosting the cook-off would no longer offset the $13,000 to $14,000 typically required for prize money. He emphasized that the pause is temporary, and plans are underway to bring the competition back next year.
The space previously reserved for the barbecue teams won’t sit idle. This year, organizers are transforming the lot off Union Street into accessible parking and a new children’s activity zone. McCall said these changes aim to enhance the festival experience for attendees.
Despite the absence of the official cook-off, barbecue will still take center stage. In addition to food vendors, a new downtown merchant competition is being introduced. Local restaurants along Main Street will craft custom barbecue-themed dishes, from sandwiches to more inventive creations, and festival-goers will vote for their favorites.
“It’s anything from a barbecue margarita to a barbecue sandwich. Nothing’s off limits, basically,” McCall said. Voting ballots, which evaluate entries on flavor, execution, and creativity, can be picked up downtown or printed from the Downtown Jonesboro Barbecue Festival Facebook page.
Longtime festival attendee Brooke Dotson expressed her excitement for the event, emphasizing that the atmosphere and sense of community are what matter most. “I just like to enjoy the company, tasting the different barbecues, and enjoying the weather,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter to me.”
Admission to the festival remains free, and McCall encouraged the community to come out and celebrate while looking ahead to the potential return of pitmasters in 2027.