16th Ever Barbecue on the River

The familiar smoke and scent of ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket — plus 50,000 people — will soon fill four blocks of Paducah’s Downtown again, with cookers the size of SUVs churning out the best BBQ in the world.

It’s the 16th Ever BBQ on the River, with 43 cooking teams heatin’ up their first coals on Thursday, Sept. 23. They’ll keep cookin’ and dishin’ it out until all 60 tons of their masterpiece BBQ run out on Saturday, Sept. 25. The action actually begins with Porkstock at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22, rockin’ the main stage.

Teams like the Basty Boys, Larry, Darrell & Darrell, the feudin’ Buzzard Brothers and the Good Ole Boys and other participants compete for top awards and, best of all, raise more than $400,000 for 75 favorite local organizations. And don’t miss the other food vendors and the Old Market Days booths!

Here’s a look at the weekend’s highlights. The full itinerary is here!

Murr-Vegas All-Stars

Wednesday, Sept. 22
6 p.m. Porkstock!

This year’s musical line up includes:

Adam and the H-Bombs
Murr-Vegas All-Stars

Jennifer Fox

Thursday, Sept. 23
BBQ and Fixins available at various booths
Children/Family Activities available at Four Rivers Covenant Church

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Calliope Concert throughout the day, in front of the River Discovery Center
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Paducah Symphony Beer Garden
Noon-11 p.m. Old Market Days

Main Stage Live Entertainment
5 p.m. Mindy & the DC Band
7:30 p.m. Jennifer Fox & The Pillow Fighters

The Cruisers

Friday, Sept. 24
BBQ and Fixins available at various booths
Children/Family Activities available at Four Rivers Covenant Church

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Calliope Concert throughout the day, in front of the River Discovery Center
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Paducah Symphony Beer Garden
Noon-11 p.m. Old Market Days
6-8 p.m. Disco Themed Photo Opps at the Gazebo and Four River Covenant Church’s Hospitality Tent

Main Stage Live Entertainment
4 p.m. Chris Black
5 p.m. Nathan Blake Lynn with the Campbell Brothers
5:30 p.m. Partial Post
7:30 p.m. Nathan Blake Lynn with the Campbell Brothers
8 p.m. The Cruisers

Bawn in the Mash

Saturday, Sept. 25
BBQ and Fixins available at various booths
Children/Family Activities available at Four Rivers Covenant Church

9 a.m. United Way 5 K Run
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Calliope Concert throughout the day, in front of the River Discovery Center
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Marine Industry Day
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Community Kick-off for One Book, One Campus, One Community Read: David Baldacci’s Wish You Well, National Quilt Museum Lawn
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Paducah Symphony Beer Garden
Noon - 8 p.m. Disco Themed Photo Opps at the Gazebo and Four River Covenant Church’s Hospitality Tent
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Paducah Symphony Beer Garden (through 11 p.m.)
2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Children’s Story Time
6-9 p.m. Disco Karaoke

Lew Jetton

Main Stage Live Entertainment
11 a.m. Blend
12:30 p.m. Classic WAXX
2 p.m. Murmur
4 p.m. BBQ Awards Presentation
5 p.m. Bawn in the Mash
6 p.m. Scale Hound
6:30 p.m. Lew Jetton & 61 South
8 p.m. Scale Hound
8:30 p.m. The Beat Daddys