Your must stop for all things bbq
KCBS Competition BBQ Festival May 1st-2nd, 2026
E Front Street, New Bern, NC. Located in front of the Fishing Pier and Persimmons Restaurant
Experience the Bear-B-Q Festival
Festival Dates
May 1st-2nd, 2026
Music Lineup
We are now reviewing bands for the entertainment throughout the event.
Food and Beverages
Our BBQ Vendors will be cooking up some amazing food for you to sample and enjoy free of charge. You are welcome to visit your favorite grill or sauce vendor or sample them all.
Festival Location
The event will be downtown New Bern, NC at the end of E Front Street in front of the Fishing Pier and Persimmons Restuarant.
Ticket Information
Admission to the event will be FREE. Tickets will be available on site, for a fee, for the People's Choice Event where you have a chance to sample and judge KCBS Professional BBQ. An award will be given to the top 3 BBQ cooks determined by you. All Proceeds from this event will go to the CarolinaEast Foundation.
Volunteer Opportunities
Join us as a volunteer and be a part of this amazing festival. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to help us make this event a success.
About Bear BQ NC
About Us
Bear-B-Q is a new KCBS Competition Event paired with the Bear-B-Q Festival. KCBS is the World's Premier BBQ Competition organization holding competitions around the globe. KCBS competitors are required to cook Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork and Brisket for an overall score to determine the Grand Champion of BBQ.