Triangle on the Cheap

Live well in the Triangle on a budget. Find fun, free things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Cary

POSTED BY
Jody Mace
Sponsored by Drink Eat Relax Events

UPDATE: The contest has ended. The winners have been emailed. Scroll down for the names of the winners.

Cary’s favorite BBQ Festival is back and better than ever in its 17th year!

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is a two-day event. It takes place at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary:

  • Friday, August 1, 2025, from 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 12 to 6 p.m. (gates open for GA at 2 p.m.)

Read on to learn about the festival, a 20% discount on tickets, and the name of the contest winners.

Cary’s Favorite Festival is Back and Better than Ever. Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass and Smoked Beasts! It’s two great days of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, and barbeque eatin’. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE-TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon.

Ticket Prices

Get a discount on your tickets! Use promo code TRICHEAP20 for 20% off GA or VIP tickets for Friday and Saturday. The code can not be combined with other sales or promotional offers. The promo code is valid through July 31, 2025. The code can not be used on Grand Poobah tickets.

  • Friday General Admission: $50.74 ($43.53 after taxes and discount)
  • Saturday General Admission: $50.74 ($43.53 after taxes and discount)
  • Friday VIP Admission: $84.56 ($72.44 after taxes and discount)
  • Saturday VIP Admission: $84.56 ($72.44 after taxes and discount)
  • Grand Poobah Admission: $179.27, plus tax. (Discount not available)

The original prices above do not include tax, but the discounted prices do.

Find a description of the ticket levels and buy tickets here.

Buy Tickets

Highlights of the Festival

Your admission buys you a souvenir glass so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon.

In addition:

  • The Meat Coma: This session will feature exotic smoked meats. Pigs were only the beginning
  • New local beer garden: Beers created by your neighbors
  • BBQ Galore: Pulled pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, sausages and more. Portions are heavy and prices low.
  • The Shrine of Swine: There will be whole hogs during each session
  • Tasting Theater: Enjoy seminars with master distillers, brewmasters and pit masters from the south
  • Shop: Browse cool exhibits of Brewerania, hot sauces, BBQ accessories, cookware and more
  • Game It: Fun activities like Connect Four, Giant Jenga, cornhole and more
  • Dance: Listen to live rock, blues and bluegrass music on the Main Stage

Win Tickets to the Festival!

UPDATE: The contest has ended. The winners have all been emailed. They are:

  • VIP tickets: Maria M.
  • GA tickets: Jonathan H.
  • GA tickets: Israel R.
  • GA tickets: Laura C.
  • GA tickets: Brooke M.
  • GA tickets: Samantha M.

If you think you’re one of the winners and you haven’t received an email from me, please send an email to jody@triangleonthecheap. It must come from the email address you used to enter the contest.

Six Triangle on the Cheap subscribers will win tickets to the festival! We’re giving away five pairs of General Admission tickets for Saturday, and one pair of VIP tickets for Saturday.

Subscribe to Triangle on the Cheap’s daily newsletter! (It’s free! And it gives you a chance to win contests like this!)

To enter the contest, just scroll down and leave a comment! Make sure to leave your first and last name and your correct email address so we can contact you. Your email address will not be public.

The contest ends on July 28, 2025. We will email the winners and also announce them in this article. The winners are chosen randomly.

Subscribe to Triangle on the Cheap

Koka Booth Amphitheatre

8003 Regency Pkwy
Cary, NC

Visit Website Get Directions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leigh Coley says

    This would be a dream! Our son will be at his grandmother’s, and we could use a fun date day. We love BBQ and bourbon too!!!

  2. Kat Skuback says

    Oooh, this is perfect. I have a friend coming to visit on Friday and she wants to try some BBQ!

  3. Erica Duffy says

    Hello community! Just moved to the area and super excited to experience the Triangle and meeting new friends. Your newsletter is amazing and so informative. Hoping to win the tickets, would be such a great start to our new life in the Triangle! Thank you for considering us and cheers!

  5. Sarah Martin says

    What a wonderful combination – great food, great drinks, great location. I’m in!

  6. Tommy G says

    Looks like the heat wave will break just in time for this event, can’t go wrong with the combination of Beer, Bourbon and BBQ, looking forward to seeing everyone there!

  9. Susan Font says

    Sing it! “Darlin’ YOU (ooo ooo ooo) send me.”
    You send me and someone I can truly enjoy it with, will go. No questions asked.
    It’s all about making memories. Good ones!

  14. Vicky Trowell says

    Been living in Raleigh since 1990 but never been to festival. Babysitting our one yo grandson so trying to find fun things to do with him. He likes outdoor and my husband likes beer so this is a perfect place for us to spend our Saturday.

  15. Blake Carroll says

    This is a fun event but it certainly would be better at a different time of year with better weather!!

  16. Nortorious Coleman-Taylor says

    Winning would be amazing start to kick off my wife’s birthday month!

  18. Andrew says

    We’ve had our eyes on this event for a while, and snagging a couple of tickets would be the cherry on top — or should we say, the perfect bite!

  26. Cherry Jochum says

    CRAZY about Triangle on the Cheap. This distro
    Should be in every state and town. Please show appreciation of my loyalty and star struck regard by crowning ME (from Maine) a VIP!
    😊😊😊🍗🍖🦞

  27. Pam Diamond says

    Good thing it’s walking distance so I can walk it off after the delicious indulgence!! Worth it. Would love 2 tix!

  28. Lauren J Cotter says

    Thanks for the opportunity. Would love to win tickets and take my Dad for his birthday! 🙂

  32. Ann Thompson says

    The only thing that would make this festival better would be if it were in May. Lol, I’ll still brave the heat for some BBQ!

  33. Mary Dyer says

    I’d love to gift my husband a pair of tickets to take a buddy – he’d love this!

  34. Brooke M. says

    I look forward to this event – and free entry would be wonderful! Thank you for the opportunity!

  40. Jennifer Smith says

    This is the first year we will be able to go. I have heard great things about it and I’m so excited!

  42. Adam Greenwood says

    Oh, winning this would be amazing. I am pre-setting my Uber pick up.
    Thanks TOTC for offering this
    Cheers!!

  44. Susan Bilenki says

    Best way to end your summer and start the fall with the beer BBQ and bourbon festival!

  53. Anne F Farmer says

    Yum. Nothing screams NC more than Barbecue, Beer and a little Bourbon. Sounds fun.

  54. Christina says

    I am so ready to eat some good food and drink some good beer with the people I love!

    • Chrisina House says

      Since I didn’t follow directions the first time smh lol. I am so ready to eat some good food and drink some good beer with the people I love!

  62. Kristen V Sloan says

    Been following Triangle on the Cheap for years! Thanks for keeping the community informed.

  66. John Bryant says

    I went to this event quite a few years ago and had a fantastic time and would love to go again and see how much it has changed. Thanks for the opportunity to win tickets.

  71. Rebecca G King says

    love the idea of some bbq and bourbon.
    always wanted to do this. nothing like a smoked pig!

  74. Alana Andreyko says

    A friend from Spain will be visiting us at that time and we’d love to introduce her to NC BBQ!

  80. Suzette Brown says

    I have never been to this, and I would love to experience it! I need to meet new people and try new things!

    🙏🏻

  85. Sharon Brantley says

    I would love to go! I can’t wait to try every sample, indulge in my favorites and take way too many food selfies to share in my social media.

  88. Taylor Lenhart says

    My husband and I would love to go to this event for the first time. Yay BBQ Beer & bourbon! 🐖 🍺 🥃 🤠 🎶

  90. James Boyles says

    I’m just getting settled in the area and I love exploring It sounds like a great event and I hope to go.

  92. Linda Sweeney says

    I have lived here about 6 years and never been to this due to work obligations. I recently moved into a new career that allows more time for me. I have been visiting different places and festivals around the Triangle including arts festivals, farmers markets, and holiday events. I enjoyed the Chinese Lanter Festival there this past Fall. Trying to add things to the experiences. Have to do this!!!

  95. Elizabeth Harris says

    This festival is always a fun time. Would love to win the free tickets.

  97. Emily S. says

    Would love to take my husband to the festival for an early birthday present. Looks like fun!

  98. Cheryl says

    Thank you for posting about this great event! Tickets are a little out of my budget this year, so hoping to win them here. thanks for the opportunity!

  100. Brenda McGarvey says

    Sounds like a great time! Haven’t explored the area a lot but this might be one time I should.

  110. Cheryl Barg says

    Have lived here for 20 years and have not had the opportunity to attend this fabulous event. Would love to be part of it this year.

  112. Camilla says

    This looks like such a fun summer event! Beer, bourbon, BBQ, and live music all in one place, can’t go wrong with that combo.

  115. Phil McKee says

    I’ve never been. Moved from TX. Would love to experience a NC BBQ festival! Excited to invite all my new friends in the area!

  124. Ally Stewart says

    I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this event. I am finally in town and able to attend. I hope I win some tickets. Can’t wait to go.

  125. Courtney H. says

    I tried to go last year but couldn’t make it! I hope I can make it this year and bring some friends, it looks like a great event.

  129. Jeff Gottesman says

    We LOVE your daily newsletter, it’s the FIRST thing we look at in the morning to plan our day, week, month!

    To win free tickets would be an amazing chance for us to experience the festival for the 1st time since moving here from NJ

  130. Grace Dragich says

    This sounds like a perfect summer festival of food and drinks! Would love to go 🙂

  133. Megan Whitelaw says

    Would love to finally get to check out this event! Thanks for the opportunity!

  137. Brandy Mutchler says

    While I don’t eat meat, I do see that Cousin’s Maine Lobster will be there and I do LOVE them! Would be honored to be chosen to have the opportunity to go. Also, LOVE my Triangle On The Cheap newsletter!! Always lets me know what low cost options are coming up 🙂

  139. Sara Smith-Silva says

    I’ve never been to the festival so this would give me a chance to experience all the joy and delicious food that everyone is commenting about. I would love to have my kids to go with me so we can enjoy some adult time together!

  140. Jeanel Newkirk says

    I’ve been wanting to attend since this festival started. Be nice to sample bourbon prior to purchasing a whole bottle. I need an education on the different types and what a perfect opportunity at Triple B festival. 🥃😀

  143. Jo Kramer says

    Jo Kramer
    Hi, getting to know NC has been so much fun! Have not been to this interesting festival but would LOVE LOVE LOVE to join you.
    Please enter me in your ticket give-away. Me and Steve L. would greatly appreciate it.
    Thank you,
    Jo

  144. Denise Caprio says

    This is my favorite festival!!! Can’t wait! Always have a good time!

    Denise

  145. Nathan Amos says

    We moved to NC about 8 years ago and love that so many of the events and festivals are so locally focused. We’d love to win passes to this!
    Triangle On The Cheap has been an absolute life saver for us!

  147. Chris Pugh says

    If I win I’m going whole hog this year! I’m trying everything! I have the stretchy shirt, pants, shoes, and socks …I’m ready……! 😁 🐷

  148. Katie Trychel says

    We loved this festival last year and would be so excited to go to it again this year!

  156. Hana Zevgolis says

    I’d love to win tickets for this event! My boyfriend is a West Coast transplant and it would be a great chance to show him the best of the best NC has to offer for bbq!

  157. Melissa Hyland says

    I live right down the road for years and never knew this event existed haha sounds great!

  164. Chad Johnson says

    This is my favorite festival of the year. If I win the tickets I’ll be able to invite some of my boys who are too cheap to buy their own tickets ..haha

  165. Pamela Diamond says

    Good thing we can walk there so we can walk off the food and drink after the fun!!!

  171. Patricia C Satterfield says

    Hey…I:be been trying to go to this event for years. This the year for me. Can’t wait to sample all of that ‘Que and libations?!!!!

  172. Helen says

    I have never been to this festival and would like to see and experience everything.

  182. Shontrelle Robinson says

    Can’t wait to enjoy myself at the festival!!!!

    CHEERS TO A GOOD TIME!!

  193. Rob Stern says

    Nothing says summer fun like beer, bourbon and BBQ! Thanks for the chance to win! c:)

  194. Israel Reyes says

    If I wing I’m wearing pants with an elastic waist because I’m leaving this event STUFFED

Member of the Living on the Cheap Network

Triangle on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.