“Where The Smoke Meets The Sound,” Santa Maria BBQ Fest Returns with a Special KEYT Preview

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria's annual BBQ festival will return to the Central Coast this upcoming weekend, celebrating the region's iconic Santa Maria-style tri-tip, phenomenal bands, and will bring back the fan-favorite beer festival and carnival.

Organizers say this festival is where "the smoke meets the sound," incorporating elements for everyone in the community. Jaime Flores and Andre Nunoz from the BBQ Festival gave your Morning News a special preview on TV Hill of everything this weekend has in store.

"We definitely have something for everybody this weekend. We're taking an event that was traditionally on 1 day, 4 hours, to a 3-day event, adding a music element to it all weekend long, a carnival aspect, bringing back the Santa Maria Beer Festival for the community, and of course the barbecue competition which has been held for the last seven years in Santa Maria," said Flores.

Admission and parking is free for the family-friendly event, and free shuttles will be available all-day Saturday to ensure everyone can join in on the fun.

While there's so much to look forward to during the 3-day event, the festival wouldn't be complete without a good ol' BBQ competition. Locals are invited enter in their take on the Santa Maria-style BBQ, to see who comes in on TOP.

The 8th annual Santa Maria BBQ Festival returns to Pioneer Park this weekend, September 18th-20th. For more information, visit www.smbbqfestival.com/

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