By DATHAN KAZSUK
Get ready to raise a glass and roll up your sleeves, because the inaugural BBQ & Bubbly Festival is bringing smoky flavors and sparkling sips to Fenton in Cary on Saturday, May 31!
Hosted by The Wine Centric Show, this finger-lickin’ fest will feature award-winning pitmasters, top chefs and a curated lineup of bubbly that’ll make your taste buds dance like flames on a hot grill!
VIP entry starts at noon, and general admission begins at 1:00 p.m. Ticket options include VIP, All-Inclusive, BBQ-Only and Kids’ tickets—because even the little piggies deserve some BBQ love!
BBQ & Bubbly is all about big flavors and bold sips. Attendees can feast on unlimited BBQ from 10 rockstar chefs and pitmasters, each serving up their signature smoky creations. To keep things balanced (or just extra indulgent), there’s a carefully curated selection of 20 sparkling wines, plus craft beer, coffee, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails for good measure.
This event has fizzle and shizzle! Expect a live DJ, family-friendly activities and a VIP lounge for those who want to kick back in style. Kids under seven get in free and a portion of the proceeds will support CureSearch for children’s cancer research. That’s BBQ for a cause—now that’s something worth toasting!
This stacked lineup of culinary wizards is bringing their best to the grill, including David Mitchell of Longleaf Swine, Andrew Ullom of Union Special Bread, James Sampson of Corner Boys BBQ, Lewis Donaldson of Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Kevin Ruiz of the soon-to-open Cuya Cucina Latina, Joe Lumbrazo of The Butcher’s Market, Nate Figaro of 8020 Creole BBQ and Rashad Smith of The Smitty Experience. VIPs will also get a special treat from Mason Allen of Changing Tide Oyster Co., because nothing says luxury like BBQ and oysters!
Featured beverage partners include The Raleigh Wine Shop, LouElla Wine, Beer & Beverage, Dram & Draught, Bond Brothers Beer Company and Carrboro Coffee Roasters—all ready to keep your glass full and your spirits high!
“Hosting the inaugural BBQ & Bubbly at Fenton is an incredible opportunity to bring together the best of barbecue and sparkling wine in a setting made for unforgettable moments,” says Becky Marks, marketing and events manager at Fenton. “We’re beyond excited to introduce this high-quality culinary event to Cary.”
Matthew Weiss, BBQ & Bubbly co-host and host of The Wine Centric Show, shares his enthusiasm, saying, “I’ve traveled the world tasting amazing food and wine, but this? This is the kind of event I’d personally want to attend—world-class BBQ, stellar wine and an experience the whole family can enjoy.”
Weiss’ Wine Centric Show is known for bringing the world of wine to everyday enthusiasts, featuring interviews with icons like Jeremy Seysses (Domaine Dujac), Samantha Cole-Johnson (JancisRobinson.com), André Mack (Maison Noir Wines), and Eric Asimov (The New York Times). Now, with BBQ & Bubbly, he’s aiming to put Cary on the map as the next big food & wine destination—think Aspen Food & Wine Classic, but with extra smoke and soul!
So, mark your calendars and bring your appetite—BBQ & Bubbly is ready to serve up grill marks and good times!
