PAIRING THE PERFECT SOUTHERN SOUL food with some soulful entertainment, The Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival returns to Downtown Blue Ridge on September 15 – 17. The three-day soiree starts on Thursday with a kick-off party sponsored by the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce at Angry Hops Brewing, rolls into Friday with a Block Party and Blues Train benefitting the Kiwanis Club, and culminates Saturday with the main event, featuring live music and all the slow-smoked meats (and more!) you can eat. Saturday tickets are available for $10 online at blueridgebluesandbbq.com or at the door, with proceeds benefitting local children’s charities; gates open at 11, and music kicks off at 11:30. Whether you hit up as many vendors as possible at the festival or perhaps plan your own barbecue tour, consider this your cheat sheet for some of the finest finger-lickin’ goods around:
• Brisket grilled cheese from AngelFire7 BBQ | Find food truck & catering details at af7bbq.com
• Loaded BBQ nachos from Mutt & Jeff’s Smokehouse | Find food truck & catering details at muttandjeffsfranchise.com
• Slow-smoked ribs from Mr. Nice Guy Soul Food | Find them on Facebook for the food truck schedule
• BBQ Sundae—layers of pork with beans and mac & cheese—from Sweet Cheek’s BBQ Co. | Find food truck & catering details at sweetcheeksbbqcompany.com
• Redneck Rolls—an egg roll filled with pulled pork and mac & cheese—from Smokin’ E’s BBQ | Visit the restaurant at 2183 E. Hwy. 52 in Ellijay
• Smoked ribs with the signature See Rack City Pork Rib Rub from Chatter Box Café | Pay a visit to the café on your next trip to Chattanooga; chatterbox423.com
• Locally made hard cider from Mercier Orchards | Visit the Blue Ridge farm shop for fresh produce, apple cider donuts and more; mercierorchards.com
