SEVIERVILLE’S BLOOMIN’ BBQ

Music & Food Festival

Sevierville’s nineteenth annual Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival will take place May 19-20, 2023. This family-friendly event will once again bring barbeque cook teams from all over the United States to Sevierville to compete for $17,500 in cash and prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion in the Bush’s Best TN State Championship Cook Off. Rounding out the event is toe-tapping music on three stages, incredible arts and crafts, kids’ games and the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Sevierville’s favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton.

The Swaggerty’s Farm Main Stage is packed with incredible entertainment this year, including headline performances from Yonder Mountain String Band and Sawyer Brown. Also catch great shows on that stage from Kentucky Just Us, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, The Barefoot Movement, Dale Ann Bradley, Breaking Grass, Tray Wellington, and Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley.
Get the full lineup and schedule here.

Music and entertainment on two additional stages, the Bush’s Best Community Stage and the SkyLand Ranch Back Porch Stage will include everything from regional rock and country artists to local dance teams and an interactive square dance calling.

On Saturday, the BBQ competition starts early. Watch as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats. Then stay for the announcement of BBQ champs at 4pm. During the competition, the teams will cook an estimated 2,832 pounds of meat including 20 pounds of pulled pork, 24 pounds of brisket, 5 pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of ribs each. Winning teams will receive recognition in Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket as well as specialty categories like “Anything Swaggerty’s Farm Sausage,” “Anything Bush Beans,” and Dessert.

Bring the little ones to enjoy the Days Gone By Games, presented by Sevier County Government. Old fashioned wooden games and toys delight both young and old in this interactive play space which will remain open until approximately 9pm each day of the event.

Nearly 60 artists and crafters will be part of Sevierville’s Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival– showcasing items from handmade jewelry and art to home decorator items.

Musicians can get in on the fun during Friday night’s Late Night Jam at Trotter’s Whole Hog BBQ led by 5 time world-champion banjo picker Gary “Biscuit” Davis from 10pm until midnight. History buffs are invited to come along on one of four Historic Walking Tours presented by Smokies Investors Real Estate. The tours wind throughout downtown Sevierville and are led by area historians and volunteers.

New event elements this year include a fun photo zone to create Instagrammable moments, a festival pavilion area, complimentary children’s face painting, and Bloomin’ BBQ Food Week - a 10 day celebration of festival-themed food and drink at area restaurants, wineries and distilleries.

A highlight of Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival is the 19th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals held on May 20. Finalists from around the nation will sing their hearts out for a chance to win cash and prizes. This competition, the only one of its kind that festival organizers know of, honors the songwriting of Dolly Parton. This year is particularly special because it is also the 50th anniversary year of one of Dolly’s most famous songs - I Will Always Love You. Competitors, male and female, must sing a song written by Dolly Parton (there are over 3,000) and do so in their own style (rock, rap, country, bluegrass, swing, soul, etc.).

Admission to Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival and the concerts are free thanks to great sponsors, including the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce which encourages you to stay in Sevierville while visiting the event. For great lodging and more information about Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival, call (888) 889-7415 or visit us online at www.BloominBBQ.com.