Flier for the Rise School’s BBQ and music fundraiser

Big Texas BBQ—a rib cookoff benefiting Preston Hollow’s Ashford Rise School of Dallas will take place in Fair Park for the first time in 8 years.

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What started out as a friendly tailgate cookoff in an office parking lot grew into a fundraiser with up to 60 teams competing for Best Ribs, Appetizers and Best Tailgate prizes, according to a press release from the hosting organization, TouchDown Club Of Dallas, which was founded to benefit early childhood education for 6-month to 6-year-olds with Down syndrome by way of Ashford Rise school.

The event also boasts a kid’s zone, food trucks, and a day of live music headlined by Texas Music icon Gary P. Nunn. Big Texas BBQ will also feature a Kid’s Bakeoff where the six classes from the Rise School will each create a dessert to pair with a selected ice cream from Howdy Homemade Ice Cream.

“It’s my favorite day of the year in Dallas,” says Charles Polansky, Big Texas BBQ Chairman. “It’s spending an afternoon cooking BBQ, eating with family and friends, listening to great Texas music and most importantly – raising money for the Rise kids. We’re so excited to be hosting Big Texas BBQ at Fair Park this year and hope it continues to grow into one of North Texas’ signature barbecue events.”

Celebrity judges include:

Tootsie Tomanetz, legendary Texas BBQ pitmaster of Snow’s BBQ and BBQ Hall of Famer featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table: BBQ
Daniel Vaughn, Texas Monthly barbecue editor and the author of The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue
Jeffrey Hobbs, owner and pitmaster Slow Bone BBQ
Jack Perkins, Maple & Motor Owner and BBQ legend
Doug Pickering, owner and pitmaster DWP BBQ and Douglas Bar and Grill opening in Snider Plaza in Spring 2022
Marshall Prichard, owner and pitmaster Sammy’s BBQ

And here’s the live music schedule:

Big Texas Live Music Schedule:
10 a.m. Justin Pickard & The Thunderbird Winos
1 p.m. Cash Byers & Big Valley
3:30 p.m.: Bandolero
6 p.m.: Gary P. Nunn

Tickets are only needed for guests 21+ and are available at BigTexasBBQ.org.

General admission and all day pass is $50 – for guests 21+ and include access to open bar.  VIP ticket are $150and include all day VIP pass, meet & greet with Gary P. Nunn, and access to VIP bar. The $1500 VIP table includes 10 all-day VIP passes, reserved VIP table for evening concert (Gary P. Nunn), meet & greet with Gary P. Nunn, dinner for 10 guests and access to VIP bar.