Charlotte’s Carolina BBQ Festival Returns in April With 17 Pitmasters

The smell of smoke will waft through Victoria Yards when 17 skilled pitmasters come together in Charlotte for the Carolina BBQ Festival on April 4-5.

Victoria Yards comes alive as the BBQ event joins the bigger Charlotte Shout celebration. Music plays while art shows and talks light up spots all over town.

The fourth annual event shows off traditional whole hog cooking during Charlotte Shout, a month-long citywide celebration of food and art. The smoky pits and hot grills will turn the space into a barbecue lover's dream.

Sweet Lew's BBQ owner Lewis Donald created his business to fill a hole he noticed. "There's not much of it [barbeque], so there's room to grow it," said Donald to Barbecue Bros.

Friday night's preview kicks off before Saturday's main event. People can enjoy mouthwatering beef rib sliders, hot hash with rice, and perfectly smoked pastrami made by North Carolina's best pit masters.

The event helps support two good causes. Operation BBQ Relief and Hungry Heroes will get money to help with their food programs.

You can buy regular and VIP tickets now. Kids under 10 get in free.

Whole hog cooking demos have drawn big crowds at past festivals. This year's bigger menu keeps the classic smoking methods while adding some new ideas.

Old-school smoking techniques blend with new flavors at the event. Local sauces and special smoking styles show off North Carolina's barbecue heritage.