NEAR WEST SIDE — The seventh annual Windy City Smokeout is leaving River North behind and bringing its country music and tasty BBQ to the city’s Near West Side this summer.
The festival, hosted by Bub City and Joe’s Bar, will take over a United Center parking lot spanning 250,000 square feet along Madison Street when it returns on July 12-14.
“Since we started in 2013, our guests have always dictated how the festival grows and expands year after year,” Doug Psaltis, festival co-founder and Bub City chef, said in a statement.
“The move to this Chicago landmark offers more space for guests to enjoy the best in BBQ, craft beer and live country music,” Psaltis said. “This will be our biggest and best outdoor festival yet!”
Since 2014, The festival was hosted along the Chicago River at Grand in River North.
This year’s performers include Grammy-nominated Chris Young, Old Dominion and Cole Swindell.
Eli Young Band, Jessie James Decker, Lanco, Devin Dawson, Ashley McBryde and Jordan Davis are also among the nearly 20 musicians performing.
The festival will also feature some of the top pitmasters including four-time world barbecue champion Myron Mixon.
Other pitmasters participating in the fest include Amy and Mike Mills of 17th Street Barbecue in Downstate Murphysboro; Andrew Ott of Against the Grain in Louisville; and Skip Steel of Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Louis.
More than 25 craft beers will be served from across the country including local brews like Moody Tongue, Goose Island, Local Option and Pipeworks.
General admission daily passes are $40 Friday, Sunday and $45 Sunday. Three-day passes are $110.
VIP daily passes, which include access to elevated area next to the stage, wristbands, express entrance, start at $160 and three day passes $475.
More information and a full line up can be found here.