Downtown Throwdown BBQ Cookoff & Beer Festival
Our premier fall event, the Downtown Throwdown BBQ & Beer Fest is returning to downtown Parkersburg after a two-year hiatus. Join us on Saturday, September 17 from 6 – 10 p.m. at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg. The cost is $15 for advance tickets or $20 at the door. Children 12 and under get in free with an adult. With your ticket, you will receive admission to the event, an event giveaway, your first drink, and live entertainment. To purchase an advance ticket, click on the link in the announcement bar at the top of our homepage on our website at downtownpkb.com.
Attendees will have the option to purchase various BBQ and other food items from their choice of food vendors. Food vendors currently include Benny & Babe, Dem 2 Brothers, Mountain State BBQ, Pappy’s Lip Smackin BBQ, Parkersburg Brewing Company, The Blennerhassett Hotel, The Changed Plate, The Little Stirr, and Twisted Sisterz BBQ.
The entertainment lineup for the evening will be Back Porch Alibi and Easy Street. Back Porch Alibi will take the stage from 6 - 7:30 p.m., followed by Easy Street from 8 – 9:45 p.m.
Due to COVID, the traditional glass beer mugs will not be given out upon entry to the event. Instead, drinks will be served in disposable glasses. We will have designated recycling cans at the event to prevent additional waste. When entering the event, participants will receive a giveaway commemorating the event.
Beer distributors at the event will be Spriggs, Mountain State Beer, and Capitol. They will feature many of West Virginia’s craft beer along with domestic beer. Wine, soda, and water will also be sold at the event under the tent at the main gate.
Throughout the evening attendees can purchase 50/50 tickets for a chance to win a share of the pot. They are also encouraged to cast their vote for the favorite food vendor by 9:30 p.m. that evening. The ballot box will be located at the main gate. The 50/50 drawing winner and BBQ fan favorite will be announced at the end of the evening.
Purchases for food and drinks will be made directly to the vendor. It is recommended that you bring cash in case a vendor does not accept cards. If you forget to bring cash, there is an ATM located close by.
Many volunteers are needed to make an event like this a success. If you are interested in volunteering, go to our website at downtownpkb.com and click on the link in the announcement bar at the top of the page. All volunteers receive a complimentary t-shirt and an entry ticket to the event.
This event is made possible with the support of the Parkersburg Jaycees who are assisting with the details of the event and our sponsors – Biztec, our title sponsor; Huntington Bank, our volunteer sponsor; Dupont, Grogg’s Home Services, Legacy Real Estate Professionals, One Community Federal Credit Union, The Basement Doctor, and WesBanco, our platinum sponsors; CSL Plasma, MEPB, United Bank, and WVU Medicine Camden Clark, our gold sponsors; Mid-Ohio Valley Employment, Silverheels, and Williamstown Bank, our silver sponsors; CAS Cable, Chapman Printing, Miller Communications, Pepsi, and The City of Parkersburg, our in-kind sponsors.