The Annual Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival fills downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, with barbecue and live blues for a full day each September. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., and the music runs from noon until 9 p.m.
More than 15 BBQ pitmasters are expected, along with dozens of other food vendors, family activities, and a full afternoon and evening of blues. Admission is $20, with children 12 and under admitted free.
BBQ, Food, and The Market
Barbecue is one of the main draws, with pitmasters and BBQ vendors serving food throughout the festival. You'll also find a wider selection of food vendors if someone in your group isn't there strictly for the barbecue.
New for the festival's 15th year is The Market, a group of 10 vendors selling barbecue rubs, sauces, grilling gear, custom cutting boards, and other specialty items.
2026 Live Music Lineup
Five blues acts are scheduled from noon through the end of the festival:
- 12 p.m. – Breaking Point
- 1:30 p.m. – The Cazanovas
- 3:30 p.m. – The Big Dogs
- 5:30 p.m. – Cara Grainger
- 7:30 p.m. – Emanuel Casablanca, “The Bad Boy of Blues”
Festival lineups can change, so check the official event website before you go if there's a particular act you don't want to miss.
Tickets and What to Know
General admission is $20, and children 12 and under get in free. Tickets are available online through the festival's current ticketing system, with processing fees added to online purchases. Tickets are also sold at the gate.
A discounted $15 ticket for Fannin County residents is also available online. You'll need an ID showing a Fannin County address when you enter.
Families will find children's activities inside the festival, including inflatable rides. The organizers also ask attendees to leave pets and coolers at home. Smoking is not allowed inside the festival grounds.
Parking and Shuttle
The festival takes place in downtown Blue Ridge at 400 W. Main St., Blue Ridge, GA 30513.
One of the easiest parking options is the Blue Ridge Farmers Market at 787 Summit Street. Parking there is $5 per vehicle, and a free shuttle runs between the lot and festival grounds from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other parking lots are available around downtown, but many are paid. With the festival drawing a large crowd, the park-and-ride option may save you some time hunting for a space.
A Festival That Gives Back
A portion of the festival's net proceeds supports organizations serving people in Fannin County. The 2026 beneficiaries include Snack in A Backpack, Fannin County Children's Fund, Shop with A Cop, Habitat for Humanity, Fannin County Family Connection, and The Open Arms Home for Children.
Parking proceeds also go toward local children's charities.
Make a Weekend of It
The Saturday festival is the main event, but Blues & BBQ activities begin earlier in the week.
A free kickoff party is scheduled for Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Farmers Market, 787 Summit Street.
On Friday, BBQ at Old Toccoa Farm runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Tavern at Old Toccoa Farm in nearby Mineral Bluff. This is a separate ticketed event with barbecue, drinks, and live music.
The Blue Ridge tourism office also lists a separate Blues Train & Block Party Friday evening, with a scenic train ride followed by food and live music. That event requires its own ticket.
Event Organizer
Organizer
- Phone
- (423) 402-0384
Event Location
Downtown Blue Ridge Play Park
400 West Main StreetBlue Ridge, GA 30513
United States
