Last year’s Long Beach BBQ Festival. Photos courtesy of the organizers.

Four years ago, Fountain Valley became home of the OC BBQ Bonanza, but as with all things that could be made better, the organizers soon decided Long Beach would be more suited to host the smokey event.

Smart move: last year, over 5,000 people descended daily onto Rainbow Lagoon for the three-day cookout, now officially dubbed the Long Beach BBQ Festival (and organized by the people who bring you the Long Beach Crawfish Festival and the Original Long Beach Lobster Festival).

Of note (and something that the West Coast BBQ Classic might want to take not of) is the offering of a limited-seating space where you get to endlessly indulge on all things carnivorous. Enter the Rib Village, and gorge yourself on all-you-can-eat ribs, chicken, pulled pork and, of course, all-you-can-drink beer. While endless meat and grog comes at a price ($80), ending the fear of lengthy lines and a shortage of food could be worth it.

For those more cautious with their stomachs and more mindful of their wallets, ther are a few options: the $30 Rib Feast will get you a 1/2 slab of pork rib with some sides—the usual beans or collard greens and what-not—while the basic $15 (or $13 online) ticket garners you entrance and the ability to sample a la carte items that range from $2 to $5.

Five big grillers are scheduled to appear at the Long Beach BBQ Fest: Porky-N-Beans, the famed rib cookers that have been hitting the classics circuit since 1983; St. Louis-style pork masters Howling Coyote; Texan barbecue-teurs Cowboy’s Barbecue & Rib Company; the Colonel himself, Colonel Dan of Johnson’s Bar-B-Que, bringing his fare that’s netted him 150+ awards; and the down-home, hickory-smoked awesomeness that is Tennessee Q.

Prepare your stomach and keep the wet wipes nearby.

The Long Beach BBQ Festival runs Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24 at Rainbow Lagoon. For more information and tickets, click here.

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