Submitted by Lacey South Sound Chamber
When summer hits Lacey, there’s one weekend that everyone circles on the calendar. The South Sound BBQ Festival, hosted by the Lacey South Sound Chamber, returns July 10–11, 2026, with more flavor, more music, more family fun, and more community energy than ever before. This year’s festival is packed with new experiences, beloved traditions, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay from the moment gates open until the last song fades out.
Tap the Keg Friday Night, July 10 (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
The weekend begins with a brand-new celebration called Tap the Keg, proudly sponsored by Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel. From 5 PM to 9 PM, the festival grounds transform into a 21-and-over summer hangout filled with cold drinks, live music, yard games, and a relaxed, lively vibe perfect for winding down the week.
BigFoot Wieners will be serving their famous gourmet hotdogs, the kind that make you stop mid-conversation because the smell alone is irresistible. Combine that with great music, warm July air, and a crowd ready to celebrate, and you have a Friday night that feels like the perfect start to festival weekend.
Festival Day Saturday, July 11 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Saturday brings the full South Sound BBQ Festival experience, bigger, brighter, and more delicious than ever. From 11 AM to 7 PM, the festival becomes a full-day adventure packed with food, music, activities, and local flavor. Even better, it is completely free to attend.
Kids will have endless ways to play, explore, and burn energy with hands-on activities, games, and attractions designed just for them. The Capital Injury Law sponsored mechanical bull is back and ready for anyone bold enough to take a ride, kids, adults, and everyone in between.
The America’s Credit Union Chicken Wing Eating Contest returns as one of the most talked-about events of the entire weekend. This crowd favorite features youth and adult brackets, turning the stage into a hilarious, high-energy battle of speed, strategy, and sauce. Spectators cheer, contestants dig in, and the whole thing becomes one of the most unforgettable moments of the festival. Winners walk away with Visa gift cards, bragging rights, and the kind of glory only a wing-eating champion can claim.
Live music fills the festival all day with performances by The Green Room, Sturgeon Moon, and Backlash. Each band brings its own style, energy, and summer soundtrack to the event.
Dan Nicholson, event co-chair and owner of D Zines, says, “You can smell the festival before you even see it. There’s something special about sharing great food and great music with thousands of people who love this community.”
Shelley Nicholson, who co-chairs the event, serves as the President Elect for the Lacey South Sound Chamber adds, “As much as people come for the barbecue, they stay because it turns into a full experience. Music, laughter, kids playing, and that feeling of summer in the South Sound.”
Visitors can spend time with the local vendors, discover new favorites, grab something delicious, and enjoy the kind of community spirit that only happens when thousands of people come together to celebrate.
New $5 Taste ‘BBQ Happy Hour’ Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
This year introduces a new way to sample the best of the festival. The $5 Taste “BBQ Happy Hour” runs from 4:30 PM to 7 PM, offering special five-dollar tasting portions from select barbecue vendors. It is perfect for trying something new, building your own mini barbecue tour, or grabbing a quick bite between bands. It is affordable, fun, and guaranteed to be one of the most popular additions of the weekend.
A Weekend You Don’t Want to Miss
Hosted by the Lacey South Sound Chamber, the South Sound BBQ Festival is more than an event. It is a celebration of local pride, local businesses, and the people who make Lacey feel like home. With the addition of the Friday night Tap the Keg and new experiences like the $5 Taste “BBQ Happy Hour,” 2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting year yet.
Whether you are coming for the barbecue, the music, the games, the vendors, or simply the chance to enjoy a summer weekend with your community, this festival promises something unforgettable for everyone.
Getting to the South Sound BBQ Festival
The South Sound BBQ Festival is happening at Huntamer Park in Lacey, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE. Park at any of the approved nearby lots, or just hop on the Intercity Transit bus lines. The Intercity Transit Center is just one block from the park!
The South Sound BBQ Festival would like to thank its 2026 sponsors: D Zines, Creative Solutions & Graphic Designs; Lucky Eagle Hotel & Casino; America’s Credit Union; Capital Injury Law; ThurstonTalk; 96.9Kayo; Lemay; McDonalds – Bowers Enterprises; PRMG Patrick Davidson; Hometown Property Management; Devaney Electric; Chicago Title; Precisely Right Accounting; and Heritage Bank.
Bring your appetite, gather your friends, and celebrate one of the region’s favorite summer traditions.
South Sound BBQ Festival
Friday, July 10, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tap the Keg 21+
Saturday, July 11, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey
Admission is free
