Pitmasters, Live Music And Regional Flavours Head To Halls Gap
A new three-day barbecue festival will take over Halls Gap from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September, with two cooking competitions offering $13,000 in combined prize money.
The inaugural Grampians BBQ Festival will feature live-fire cooking, regional food and drink, blues and roots music, artisan stalls and family entertainment near the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
Locals Adrian Manikas of Absolute Outdoors, Damon Henricksen of Flame Brothers Smokehouse and Kate Kirkpatrick from Grampians Events created the festival, which will run across the Father’s Day weekend.
“This is about creating a reason for people to visit, stay longer and experience everything our region has to offer. The Grampians BBQ Festival celebrates the things that bring people together – great food, live music, local producers, community connection and unforgettable experiences,” Manikas said.
Pitmasters To Compete For $13,000
More than 10 teams will compete in the Black Opal Wagyu Pitmaster Challenge, an Australian Barbecue Alliance-sanctioned competition covering brisket, pork, lamb and ribs.
The challenge carries a $10,000 prize pool.
A separate Steak Cookoff Association competition will include same-day double steak and dessert categories, with another $3,000 available in prize money.
Australian pitmaster Jimmy Brisket will be among the competitors. He has represented Australia twice at the World Championship Barbecue Cook-Off in Texas and recently qualified for the inaugural BBQ World Cup in Las Vegas.
Grampians local Tom Ballinger of Coal Catering will also appear throughout the weekend, presenting live-fire cooking demonstrations and hands-on sessions.
Regional producers taking part will include Paper Scissors Rock Brewery, Bulls Roar Brewery, Pomonal Estate, Black & Ginger Wines, Itinerant Spirits and Timboon Distillery.
Food vendors and artisan stalls will operate across the festival, alongside barbecue-inspired dishes and interactive cooking experiences.
Live music will run throughout the weekend, with Mitch King, Matt Katsis, Mike Elrington and The Mojo Corner included in the line-up.
The festival will extend beyond its main site through a self-guided BBQ Trail connecting participating cafés, restaurants, retailers and accommodation providers across Halls Gap and Pomonal.
Each participating business will offer its own barbecue-inspired food, drink or retail experience during the weekend.
Early-bird tickets are now available on the Grampians BBQ Festival website.
