NBBQA Live Fire Experience: Nashville Fire & Flavor
A live fire cooking competition full of smoke, sear & Southern flavor.
Travellers Rest Historic House Museum
636 Farrell ParkwayNashville, TN 37220-1218
United States
* Registration open until 9/12/26 at 8:30 PM (EDT)
September 11–12, 2026, the National Barbecue & Grilling Association invites you to Nashville Fire & Flavor at Travellers Rest Historic House Museum, 636 Farrell Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee.
This is not an ordinary barbecue festival. It is your chance to watch talented pitmasters and outdoor-cooking personalities work the flames, taste fresh-off-the-fire creations, meet the people behind the food, explore barbecue and grilling brands, and enjoy two days filled with smoke, flavor, music, and Southern hospitality.
Friday night features live-fire cooking, public sampling, vendors, live music, a cash bar, and appearances by Carey Bringle, Chris Lilly, BBQ Pit Boys Bruce Harrington and Wade Barker, Kirk Malzer, Rob McMurtrie, and Michael McDearman.
Whether you are a serious barbecue fan, a Nashville foodie, a Brentwood local, or a family looking for something different to do, Nashville Fire & Flavor puts you close to the cooks, the food, and the action.
Come hungry, gather your friends, and reserve your place beside the fire. Some experiences have limited capacity, so get your tickets early.
Friday Night Fire & Flavor Sampling Pass 6pm-9pm
Kick off the weekend with Friday night live fire cooking, public sampling, Southern flavor, vendors, and barbecue community.
| Price | |
|---|---|
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Friday Night at Nashville Fire & Flavor 6pm-9pm
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$75.00 |
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Kids Pitmaster Pass — 12 & Under Free Friday
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FREE |
Saturday Live Fire Sampling Pass 12 noon - 4pm
Enjoy Saturday live fire cooking, public sampling, smoke, sear, Southern flavor, vendors, and pitmaster interaction.
| Price | |
|---|---|
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Saturday Fire & Flavor Sampling Pass 12noon-4pm
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$65.00 |
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Kids Pitmaster Pass -12 & Under Free Saturday
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FREE |
Two-Day Smoke & Sear Sampling Pass
Enjoy Friday and Saturday live fire sampling, Southern flavor, vendors, pitmasters, and the full Smoke & Sear experience.
| Price | |
|---|---|
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Friday and Saturday Fire & Flavor Sampling Pass
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$110.00 |
VIP Experiences Greenwood Smoke and Sear
Limited-access VIP experiences featuring pitmaster interaction, special hospitality, hands-on opportunities, and a same-day public sampling pass.
| Price | |
|---|---|
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Friday Fire & Flavor Fireside VIP Dinner 6pm-730pm
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$150.00 |
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Friday VIP Bourbon Tasting — Carey Bringle 5pm-6pm
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$100.00 |
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Saturday Fire & Flavor VIP Experience 12:30-2:30pm
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$150.00 |
Agenda
| September 11 | |
| 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Friday VIP Parking Opens VIP parking opens at 4:30 PM on Friday, 30 minutes before the VIP experiences begin. Arrive early, get parked, check in, and be ready to enjoy your Nashville Fire & Flavor VIP experience from the moment the gates open. |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | VIP Bourbon Sampling with Carey Bringle of PLP Spirits Step inside the world of bourbon with Carey Bringle of PLP Spirits during this exclusive VIP Bourbon Sampling at Nashville Fire & Flavor. Guests will enjoy a guided tasting while Carey shares the stories, flavors, and craftsmanship behind each pour. It’s an intimate opportunity to sip, learn, ask questions, and spend time with one of barbecue’s most recognizable personalities—all before the fire and flavor of Friday night gets underway. |
| 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | General Admission: Taste the Fire Step into the smoke and experience Nashville Fire & Flavor up close. Sample fresh-off-the-fire bites, meet the teams cooking them, watch live-fire action unfold, and enjoy the kind of Southern hospitality that makes you want to stay awhile. Come hungry, ask questions, and discover the people, flavors, and stories behind the fire. |
| 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Friday VIP Live-Fire Dinner with Chris Lilly Join legendary pitmaster Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q for an intimate live-fire dinner featuring incredible food, Southern hospitality, and the stories and techniques behind the fire. After dinner, VIP guests return to the Live Fire Sampling Area for cooking demos, fresh-off-the-fire samples, and pitmaster interaction. Separate VIP ticket required. Limited availability. |
| September 12 | |
| 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM | Saturday VIP Parking Opens VIP parking opens at 10:30 AM on Saturday 30 minutes before the VIP experiences begin. Arrive early, get parked, check in, and be ready to enjoy your Nashville Fire & Flavor VIP experience from the moment the gates open. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | VIP Early Access: Meet and Greet With Pat Martin 🔥 Get closer to the fire with Pat Martin, founder of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint and author of Life of Fire. This exclusive VIP meet-and-greet gives you the chance to hear Pat’s stories, talk whole-hog barbecue, ask questions, snap a photo, and experience the passion behind his live-fire cooking. Limited VIP access. Come for the barbecue—stay for the stories behind the fire. |
| 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM | VIP Cooking Class with Ken Wood of Charcoal Cowboys Join us Saturday, September 12, for an exclusive NBBQA Live Fire Cooking Class at Nashville Fire & Flavor! Learn backyard cooking techniques while enjoying award-winning Pork Belly Cinnamon Rolls with Bourbon Crème Frosting. Guests receive a tasting, recipe card, Q&A and photo opportunity with the pitmaster. Ticket includes Saturday’s public sampling experience at Travellers Rest. Space is limited! |
For More Information:
336 Phelps RoadDouglas, Georgia 31533
United States (800)385-0002
Reserve Your Place Beside the Fire
Two Days Beside the Fire
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4:30 – 5:00 PMVIP Parking OpensVIP
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5:00 – 6:00 PMBourbon Sampling with Carey Bringle, PLP SpiritsVIP
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6:00 – 7:30 PMLive-Fire Dinner with Chris LillyVIP
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6:00 – 9:00 PMTaste the Fire · demos, sampling, live music & cash barGA
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6:00 – 9:00 PM🏆 People’s Choice: Krusteaz Cornbread Throwdown · taste & voteGA
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10:30 AMVIP Parking OpensVIP
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11:00 AM – 12:00 PMMeet & Greet with Pat Martin · Martin’s Whole Hog BBQVIP
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11:00 AMFront bar opens · vendor samples begin · through 4:00 PMVIP
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11:00 AM🏆 People’s Choice Sauce Contest opens · taste & voteVIP
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11:00 AMLive Fire Competition · Tailgate Round beginsCOMP
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12:00 – 4:00 PMGates open to all ticket holders · vendors, live-fire samples, live music & cash barGA
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12:00 PMLive Demo & Samples #1 · Pat Martin · Q&AGA
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12:30 – 3:00 PMBackyard BBQ Class · Ken Wood · Charcoal CowboysVIP
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1:00 PMLive Demo & Samples #2 · Boerewors sausage · Rob McMurtrieGA
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1:00 PMLive Fire Competition · Pork Round beginsCOMP
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2:00 PMLive Demo & Samples #3 · Brisket · Jim ’N Nick’sGA
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3:00 PMLive Demo & Samples #4 · Steak 101 · Kirk MalzerGA
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3:00 PMLive Fire Competition · Beef Round beginsCOMP
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4:00 PMPublic day ends · tastings, vendor samples & sauce voting closeGA
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5:00 PM🏆 Sauce Contest awards · Live Fire Competition awards begin · awards only, no tastingsCOMP
September 11–12, 2026, the National Barbecue & Grilling Association invites you to Nashville Fire & Flavor at Travellers Rest Historic House Museum, 636 Farrell Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee.
This is not an ordinary barbecue festival. It is your chance to watch talented pitmasters and outdoor-cooking personalities work the flames, taste fresh-off-the-fire creations, meet the people behind the food, explore barbecue and grilling brands, and enjoy two days filled with smoke, flavor, music, and Southern hospitality.
Whether you are a serious barbecue fan, a Nashville foodie, a Brentwood local, or a family looking for something different to do, Nashville Fire & Flavor puts you close to the cooks, the food, and the action.
Live Fire, Live Music & a Cash Bar — Both Days
Friday and Saturday both bring live-fire demos, public sampling, vendors, live music, and a cash bar — all included with General Admission — plus a People’s Choice competition each day — the Krusteaz Cornbread Throwdown on Friday and the Sauce Contest on Saturday — and separately ticketed VIP experiences each day, from a fireside dinner and bourbon tasting on Friday to a pitmaster meet & greet and hands-on class on Saturday.