JONESBORO, Ark. — Smoke and music took over Main Street in Jonesboro this weekend as locals gathered for the 17th annual Downtown Jonesboro Barbecue and Music Festival. This year’s event unfolded without its signature barbecue cook-off, a move prompted by ongoing construction in the area.
Organizers opted to pause the official Kansas City Barbecue Society competition, citing limited space due to construction on Jonesboro’s new 911 dispatch center. The project rendered a utility lot inaccessible—a key area for housing barbecue rigs. Founder Tim McCall explained that with each rig occupying space equal to about five parking spots, the loss of the lot made it impractical to accommodate enough teams to support the $13,000 to $14,000 prize pool.
Instead, festival organizers repurposed the competition area to better serve attendees, transforming the space into accessible parking and a kid zone. Admission was free, and live music filled the streets, providing attendees with plenty to enjoy despite the absence of competing pitmasters.
Third-year attendee Marlon Adams was among those who embraced the changes. “Ain’t nothing like a good rib that’s soft and tender that just pulled right off the bone,” Adams said. “Jonesboro is a good place. This is a good event for downtown, so anything that’s positive, I’m all for it.”
Organizers confirmed plans to bring the official barbecue competition back next year, hoping to recreate the full scope of the festival’s traditional activities as construction concludes.
The Downtown Jonesboro Barbecue and Music Festival continues to serve as a celebration of community and culture, showcasing local resilience in the face of change.