I AM GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE A WIFE WHO INDULGES MY PASSIONS WITH GOOD CHEER! THANK YOU FOR GOING WITH ME TO THE 2022 TEXAS MONTHLY BBQ FEST DOROTHY!

2022 Texas Monthly BBQ Fest…A Picnic to Remember!


When I joined the Texas Monthly BBQ Club last December, one of the perks that I was most excited about was the 2022 BBQ Fest, which was scheduled for November 6, 2022 in  Lockhart, Texas.  I convinced Dorothy to join me, and ordered our VIP tickets in early June.  It was a long wait, but November 6, 2022 finally rolled around.  

Since this was our first TM BBQ Fest, we didn’t really know what to expect.  Since we had VIP passes, we would be allowed to enter the grounds at noon, one hour earlier than general admission folks.   We arrived at the Lockhart City Park a little after 11:00 a.m., paid our $10 parking fee, then made our way to the check-in area.  

DOROTHY ARRIVES AT CHECK-IN, READY TO STRAP HER WRIST BANDS.
WE EACH GOT THREE WRISTBANDS AT CHECK-IN. ONE TO GET US INTO THE GROUNDS; ONE TO GET US IN AN HOUR EARLY AS A VIP; AND ONE TO GET US INTO THE CLUB AREA, RESERVED FOR MEMBERS ONLY.

After checking in and getting our wristbands, we took our place in line.  To  be honest, we were a little overwhelmed by the number of people who ended up in the lines to get in an hour early, and we began to wonder what we had gotten into! 

WE TOOK A SMALL FOLDING CHAIR SO DOROTHY COULD BE COMFORTABLE DURING OUR 20 MINUTE WAIT FOR THE GATES TO OPEN FOR THE VIP GUESTS.
YOURS TRULY, IN LINE. THE PEOPLE WATCHING WAS GRAND!

Once the gates opened at noon and we got inside, we made our way to an area that was centrally located and staked out our spot at a picnic table.  The first booths we visited were Helberg and 2M Smokehouse, which were right next to each other.  We had both eaten 2M before, and I had visited Helberg on one of my recent trips.

DOROTHY WAS HAPPY AS A TICK AS SHE SETTLED IN FOR SOME SERIOUS EATING. THE HUGE CHICKEN LEG WAS FROM BURNT BEAN OF SEGUIN, TEXAS.
2M SMOKEHOUSE OF SAN ANTONIO OFFERRED SOME OF THEIR EXCELLENT DESSERTS.

For the next hour or so, we settled into a very functional routine —  I would roam around visiting booths and bring the bounty back to Dorothy and our spot at the picnic table.  I made a point to visit each of the booths of joints that I (or we) had visited in person, and a couple that we tried to visit but were closed (Brett’s Backyard of Rockdale and Brett’s  BBQ shop in Katy).  

LAVACA BBQ IS LOCATED IN DOROTHY'S HOMETOWN OF PORT LAVACA. WHEN WE VISITED THIS JOINT, SHE REALIZED IT WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM HER DAD'S OLD MEDICAL OFFICE.
I ENJOYED VISITING WITH THE FOLKS FROM REJINO BBQ, LOCATED NORTH OF LUBBOCK. I HAD STOPPED IN THERE ON MY RECENT TRIP TO PETRIFIED FOREST N.P..
BRETT'S BACKYARD BBQ WAS CLOSED WHEN DOROTHY AND I PASSED THROUGH ROCKDALE ON OUR WAY TO THE WILDFLOWER TRAILS EARLIER THIS YEAR. i ENJOYED VISITING WITH ZACK GAUSS, WHO KNOWS OUR FRIEND GORDON TODD, AKA DR. GORDY.
i SAID HI TO THE FOLKS FROM FEGES, AND THE FOLKS FROM BRETT'S BBQ SHOP OF KATY TOLD ME THEY EXPECT TO MOVE INTO THEIR NEW LOCATION IN A FEW WEEKS.
WELL KNOWN JOINTS, LIKE TRUTH'S AND SNOWDEN'S, SEEMED TO HAVE SOME LONGER LINES.
OF COURSE, I HAD TO STOP BY THE BOOTH OF THE #1 RANKED JOINT IN TEXAS, GOLDEE'S. THEIR BRISKET WAS OUTSTANDING!

I must admit that Dorothy and I stuffed ourselves.  The food that was offered was outstanding, with many unique items along with the standard BBQ fare.

HAD TO HAVE SOME OF THAT DELICIOUS REJINO BANANA PUDDING.
WE SAMPLED LOTS OF BBQ TACOS AS WELL AS SIDES. THESE WERE FROM HAYS COUNTY BBQ, JUST UP THE ROAD FROM US IN SAN MARCOS.
DOROTHY IS A BIG TAMALE FAN, SO I HAD TO GET HER SOME OF THE BBQ SAUSAGE WITH A TAMALE INSIDE!
ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL OFFERRINGS WAS THIS BONE MARROW DISH FROM GUESS BBQ IN WACO.

The grounds were decorated with some interesting displays, and the stage for the bands was a popular place.  The private area for BBQ Club members only was a nice place to get out of the sun and enjoy a drink in comfort. 

A WORLD RECORD DISPLAY.
HAD TO STOP AND GET A PICTURE BY THE GIANT BBQ FREAK HAT, LOCATED NEAR THE STAGE.
A PEEK INSIDE THE PRIVATE AREA FOR BBQ CLUB MEMBERS.

Dorothy and I were ready to leave after a little over an hour of stuffing ourselves with delicious BBQ.  Just before we left, I went over to the main gate to see how many people were lined up waiting for the gates to open for the general admission people —  there were a lot!

GENERAL ADMISSION PEOPLE LINED UP TO GAIN ENTRY AT 1:00 P.M.. AND THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE LINED UP AT THE INITIAL CHECK IN AREA.
DOROTHY, HEADING HOME FOR A NAP!

Dorothy and I enjoyed ourselves at the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest.  Will we attend again next year?  I sure hope so!  And maybe we will see you there as well…