Updated Mon, April 20, 2026 at 5:05 PM UTC
Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ is one of the featured pitmasters. | KG BBQ/Facebook
Some of Texas’ top pitmasters are headed to the Hill Country. Southern Living magazine will host its first Hill Country Tailgate at Fredericksburg’s Contigo Ranch on September 26.
The inaugural festival will feature a lineup of chefs with James Beard Award, Texas Monthly, and Michelin recognition under their belts, including Austinites Ali Clem of la Barbecue, Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis, and Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ. Kelli Nevarez of Port Lavaca’s LaVaca BBQ and Adrian Torres of Máximo in Houston round out the crew.
Hosted by Southern Living editor-in-chief Sid Evans, the event pairs the smoked meats with cocktails, live music, and college football on a big screen. Tickets also include a complimentary tour of the 2026 Idea House located in Friedën, a 130-acre Fredericksburg development featuring parks, nature trails, and lakes.
The magazine has recently been going all in on the once-sleepy Hill Country town. In addition to the Idea House, Southern Living named Fredericksburg one of its Best Small Towns in the South in March.
“Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals,” the report’s author gushed. “Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside.”
Tickets to the one-day event are $195 and include barbecue tastings, cocktails, beer and wine pours, and football viewing. The shindig runs 6-10 pm at Contigo Ranch at 13454 Lower Crabapple Rd.
Dining and Cooking