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Fire up the grill, grab a craft brew, and get your groove on. The Blues Brews & BBQ Festival is back at Beaver Creek Memorial Day weekend! Start your summer with live blues music on the main stage. Feast on mouth-watering BBQ grilled, smoked, and sauced to perfection by the region’s best pit masters. Then wash it all down with craft beers.
For the kids, we have games and activities for all ages, available on Saturday and Sunday.
Welcome BBQ Pitmasters and Vendors from Colorado and beyond, they'll bring the savory flavors of all things BBQ to accompany live Blues and Craft Brews.
Bring your friends, your family, and your appetites. It all happens in Beaver Creek Village May 22 - 24, 2026.
The event is free to attend. Food and beverages available for purchase.
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Sustainability is a priority—it’s how we do events. With partners like the Walking Mountains Science Center, we’ve achieved waste diversion rates of up to 92%. Thoughtfully planned, environmentally conscious, and unforgettable—Come celebrate with us at Beaver Creek!
Lodging Offer at The Charter Beaver Creek.
20% discount on lodging rates for Blue, Brews and BBQ.
BOOK NOW
Born in 1960 in Magnolia, Arkansas, blues-rock guitarist and singer Larry McCray grew up on a farm before discovering the guitar through the influence of the three Kings of the blues. Signed as Point Blank Records’ first artist, he debuted with Ambition (1990), helping shape modern blues rock through the 1990s and beyond. A prolific collaborator and touring veteran, McCray released Blues Without You in 2021 on Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive label.
A true legend of New Orleans music, George Porter Jr. is a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and a founding member of the pioneering funk group The Meters. His influential bass style and decades of collaborations have helped shape the sound of modern funk, soul, and beyond. Today, Porter continues to carry the city’s musical spirit forward with his long‑running band, the Runnin’ Pardners, delivering the deep grooves and rich heritage that define New Orleans funk.
Multiple award‑winning guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader Tommy Castro is a California blues‑rock powerhouse with a career spanning over four decades. Fronting the high‑energy Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, he’s released 17 acclaimed albums across blues, soul, R&B, and rock. His latest Alligator Records release, Closer To The Bone, strips things back to raw, old‑school blues. A 10‑time Blues Music Award winner, including four B.B. King Entertainer of the Year honors, Castro remains a relentless touring artist and one of modern blues’ most authentic voices.
Jontavious Willis is on a mission to reinvigorate modern Blues with the rhythms and spirit of its roots. Born and raised in rural Georgia, he blends Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel Blues with dynamic vocals, technical skill, and Southern charm. A Grammy‑nominated artist and International Blues Challenge winner, Willis creates joyful, danceable music that honors tradition while sounding boldly his own.
Born in Houston and raised in Milwaukee, blues guitarist and singer Carl “Buffalo” Nichols blends warmth and grit in his music. Signed by Fat Possum Records as its first solo blues artist in 20 years, Nichols draws on deep study and global travel to center Black stories in folk and blues.
Kara’s music journey began in suburban Sydney, Australia, and has taken her worldwide. Blending slide guitar, soulful vocals, and heartfelt songwriting, she creates an uplifting, distinctive sound. A former member of Papa Lips, her acclaimed solo debut Grand and Green River spent 38 weeks in the Americana Top 30.
Tab Benoit launched his career with 1992’s Nice and Warm, whose title track became a AAA radio hit and established him as a blues powerhouse. After years of relentless touring and releases on Justice and Vanguard, Benoit evolved his sound into a stripped-down trio with Telarc/Concord, beginning with Wetlands, inspired by Louisiana culture and coastal erosion. He founded the Voice of the Wetlands nonprofit and later launched Whiskey Bayou Records, supporting roots artists while continuing to tour and advocate through music.
For nearly three decades, Iowa Blues Hall of Famer Kevin Burt has captivated audiences with smooth, soulful vocals, sharp wit, and distinctive harmonica and guitar work. A multi‑award winner and 2018 International Blues Challenge champion, Burt releases Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers (Gulf Coast Records) on January 5, 2024, honoring Withers’ storytelling through deeply personal, heartfelt performances with his band, Big Medicine.
Ghalia Volt is a high-energy one-woman blues powerhouse, blending grit, soul, and raw talent with guitar and foot-drums. Born in Belgium and shaped by the American South, her album Shout Sister Shout! hit #2 on the Billboard Blues Chart, her third straight Top 3 release.
Kent Burnside, grandson of Hill Country blues legend R.L. Burnside, fuses Hill Country, Delta, Chicago blues, and blues‑rock. A 20‑year bandleader, he’s toured with Jimbo Mathus and opened for Buddy Guy. His new album Hill Country Blood is raw, soulful, and tradition‑driven.
Get your tickets to be a judge in the BBQ Competition giving our local chefs bragging rights to the best preparation of specific proteins. This year we are featuring Pork Belly and Lamb. Online registrations ends Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 5:00 pm.
Choose the time you wish to participate:
People's Choice Award - Blind judgingGrand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Awards
Pitmaster's Choice - Blind JudgingGrand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Awards
** Tickets can be purchased on site at our event ticket sales locations. Sales end 15 minutes before the opening of the competition daily. Tickets are available while supplies last based on available time slots.
Featuring St Louis ribs by Todd, 2 sauces from Mike, 2 sauces by Matt, and an assortment of pickled vegetables by Brother.
From Caucasus Mountains to Eastern European backyard barbecue. A Polish-style kebab, marinated & grilled.
Featuring two of our world-class chefs, battling it out for the best wings. Can you help us crown the winner?
Tender chicken in aromatic spices, creamy sauce, balanced heat, vibrant herbs, and comforting, flavorful curry.
A trio of beef: George | Hangar Steak, Jose | Picanha, Matt | Tomahawk
Charcoal seasoned sushi roll with smoky cavemen salsa / Westbound & Down - IPA
Short Ribs over creamy polenta, garnished with gremolata.
Welcome to an eclectic array of craft beer as well as our new Minturn Whisky Ramblin' Dram. There are multiple ways to enjoy, A full-size beverage PUNCH CARD, SINGLE BEVERAGE TICKETS or a TASTING PUNCH CARD.
Remember to drink responsibly. NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL ALLOWED AT THE EVENT. Only alcohol purchased from one of the event bars allowed.
Cashless beverage sales on site.
Single day VIP tickets can be purchased at the event ticket sales locations on site.
For event-related questions or cancellation requests, please contact Krista Deherrera at [email protected].
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