Pitmasters take the field at TIAA Bank Field for inaugural Jacksonville BBQ Festival Dec. 10-12

With the Jaguars in Nashville this weekend, top pitmasters from Texas to Missouri to Tennessee, New York and Florida are taking over TIAA Bank Field for the inaugural Jacksonville BBQ Festival Friday through Sunday.

In addition to serving up a variety of barbecue favorites, pitmasters will take to three stages to showcase — and share — recipes on how to make everything from BBQ Pizza to Smoked Turkey Breast to Skirt Steak Tacos to Prime Rib Roast and more.

On Pit Row, guests can enjoy barbecue (ranging from $5-$9) or choose the Q Pit Pass ($82.50) for all-you-can-eat BBQ and free drinks (including beer, wine, cocktails) from any of four Q Pit lounges during one of six 2.5-hour sessions over the three-day event. Be sure to bring a credit or debit card, though. This is a cashless event.

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Participating pitmasters include:

• Matt Abdoo & Shane McBride of Pig Beach BBQ (Brooklyn, N.Y.): Lamb Shoulder Guro and Cucumber Salad
• Joe Adeeb of Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q (Jacksonville): Bo Hawg Slider, Homemade Sausage and Brunswick Stew
• Mike Christina and Christina Fitzgerald of Sugarife Smokehouse (St. Louis): Spare Ribs and Potato Salad
• Mike Emerson and John Matthews of Pappy's Smokehouse (St. Louis): STL Spare Ribs and Baked Beans
• Tim Scheer of Blues Hog Barbecue (Washington, Mo.): Pork Shoulder Slider, Pulled Pork Loaded Nachos and Pineapple Slaw
• Todd Johns of Plowboys BBQ (Blue Springs, Mo.): Kansas City Burnt Ends, Lamb Ribs, and Hatch Chili Mac & Cheese
• Grant Pinkerton of Pinkerton's Barbecue (Houston): Texas-style Brisket and Cajun Corn
• Esaul Ramos and Joe Melig of 2M Smokehouse (San Antonio): Texas Beef Rib and Sweet Red Slaw
• Mark Renaud of Sundown Smokehouse (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.): Smoked Wings and Fire & Ice Pickles
• John David Wheeler of Memphis Barbecue Company (Memphis): STL Spare Ribs and Baked Beans

The festival is open 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Parking, available in Lot J, is $10. For more information, visit the event's website, bbqfestjax.com.

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