Beer, music, and BBQ: Windy City Smokeout 10th anniversary 1

The Windy City Smokeout celebrates its 10th anniversary | photo - @michaelawilson19

Tasty BBQ, handcrafted beer, and some of the best names in country music took over Chicago this past weekend, July 13-16, to celebrate The Windy City Smokeout’s 10th anniversary. The country music festival filled the United Center parking lot with over 20 handcrafted beers, 21 country music artists, and 27 skilled BBQ pitmasters nationwide.

With outdoor grass seating and barbeque-eating tents decorating the concrete, the vibe of country mixed with small-town festivals blessed the Windy City.

“I just love the vibes the country festival. The vendors are really cool to look and see and people watching is a lot more fun here,” Quinn Kamarauskas, Zac Brown Band fan, said to Chicago Star. “It’s my first festival so I’m really excited.”

Beer, music, and BBQ: Windy City Smokeout 10th anniversary 2

Sunday opener, Lauren Watkins | photo - @michaelawilson19

Big names in country music took the stage for four days. Zach Bryan kicked off the festivities on Thursday night, followed by Darius Rucker on Friday. Saturday and Sunday brought a die-hard fan base to the smokeout to enjoy Luke Bryan and Zac Brown Band.

Zac Brown Band brought Sunday night to a euphoric close with their song ‘Colder Weather.’ Everyone in the crowd illuminated the parking lot with flashlights as the artists performed their love/heartache song.

Other artists at the fest included:

  • Thursday: Randy Rogers Band, Bailey Zimmerman, American Aquarium, J.R. Carroll
  • Friday: Chris Lane, Jo Dee Messina, Jackson Dean, Drew Green
  • Saturday: Dylan Scott, Kameron Marlowe, Megan Moroney, Tanner Adell, Grady Spencer & The Work
  • Sunday: Eli Young Band, Larry Fleet, Caroline Jones, Lauren Watkins
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A wall of craft beers featuring breweries from all over the country | photo - @michaelawilson19

It wouldn’t be a country music festival if there wasn’t beer. The smokeout offered around 20 craft beers from breweries across the United States. Guests had the chance to try out these beers at the smokeout’s craft beer wall.

They featured a handful of local beers, such as Alter Brewing from Downers Grove, Goose Island from Chicago, and Noon Whistle Brewing in Naperville.

Other beers served at the fest included:

  • Bud Light
  • BuckleDown Brewing
  • Brewer’s Kitchen
  • 18th Street Brewery
  • Deschutes Brewery
  • Haymarket Brewery
  • Founders Brewing Co.
  • Hopewell Brewing Co.
  • Kona Big Wave
  • Luna Bay Booch
  • Moody Tongue
  • Seattle Cider Company
  • Spiteful Brewing
  • Shiner
  • Stone Brewing Co.
  • Trumer Pils
Beer, music, and BBQ: Windy City Smokeout 10th anniversary 4

The line of pit masters stretched out across the parking lot | photo - @michaelawilson19

The BBQ was a highlight of the festival. Featuring 27 pit masters, each barbecue stand had something different from the rest, filling the air with a sweet yet smoky smell of pork. Two standout dishes were the Pork Rind Nachos from Ubons and the Central Texas Style Brisket from Truth BBQ.

Ubons, from Yazoo City, Mississippi, had the most unique combo yet with its dish. Its chips were pork rinds, smoked pork served as ground beef, and beans and bbq sauce acted as the cheese and sour cream of a conventional nacho.

Truth BBQ, from Houston, Texas, served a slowly smoked brisket, allowing a smokey yet sweet taste that is savory with every bite. Alongside food, the smokeout offered a mocktail tent, Owen’s, for those who can’t or don't want to have alcohol. Their flavors ranged from cucumber mint and red rio grapefruit to sparkling cranberry.

Other pitmasters featured at the fest:

  • Smoque BBQ
  • Wright’s Barbecue
  • Laser Wolf
  • Mama Fried
  • Bub City
  • Hoodoo Brown BBQ
  • Sugarfire Smokehouse
  • Blues Hog Barbecue
  • Green Street Smoked Meats
  • Meat Mitch
  • LeRoy and Lewis BBQ
  • Smoke Queen Barbecue
  • Hogapalooza
  • Lexington Betty Smokehouse
  • Salt Lick BBQ
  • Panther City BBQ
  • Lillie’s Q
  • Soul & Smoke
  • Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
  • Pappy’s Smokehouse
  • Operation BBQ Relief
  • Little Miss BBQ
  • Hurtado Barbeque
  • Slab Barbeque
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Rodeo Drive, offering several little shops, bars, and games | photo - @michaelawilson19

The festival even had a take on Los Angeles's famous Rodeo Drive; however, it's pronounced rodeo this time. The section had a strip of bars, shops, and games to allow guests a break from the music, food, and beer.

Shops like HairValier and Kendra Scott sold jewelry and boho hair accessories for last-minute outfit spruces. The drive also featured Summer House Santa Monica, a sweet treat bar, and Z. Alexander Brown, a vineyard, allowing guests to taste various wines.

Windy City Smokeout offered a variety of activities to cater to guests of all ages. Whether you're first-timers or annual attendees, the festival is an experience anyone can join in on.

“This is my first country music festival and I love the atmosphere of just being able to walk around and see everybody dressed up, its just a great atmosphere to be in,” Zach Soule, Zac Brown Band fan, said to Chicago Star.

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