Saturday, October 24, 2026

Island Men BBQ Cookout postponed to next Saturday

Smoked BBQ galore will be the centerpiece of the Island Men’s annual cookout, postponed to April 29, due to inclement weather the weekend of April 22. (Courtesy photo)

KURE BEACH — The Island Men’s annual BBQ cookoff was rescheduled from this past Saturday, due to heavy rains. Instead, it’s been reschedule to take place next weekend, April 29.

The cookout will have more than 20 smokers competing to win the first-place trophy at the Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area. Gates open at 11 a.m. with winners announced at 4 p.m.

A family-friendly event, the event includes live music from The Phantom Playboys and The South Tones, as well as line dancing with the troupe Beaches and Boots. More than 40 makers will be vending at the event, and there will be a children’s entertainment area, including a bouncy and slide, as well as games.

Admission is $10 for 10 tickets to taste BBQ from participating teams; additional tickets will be sold to taste all 20 entries. Children under 12 are admitted free and there is free parking.

All proceeds from the event go back into the community to help various civic, athletics and nonprofit organizations. Last year, the event drew in 1,500 attendees and this year numbers are expected to top 2,000.

More information can be accessed here.


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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