Windy City Smokeout: Chicago's Premier BBQ and Country Music Festival

Windy City Smokeout Highlights

• 🎶 The Windy City Smokeout, now in its 12th year, is a major summertime festival in Chicago celebrating country music, beer, and barbecue.
• 🏆 The event has been recognized with an Academy of Country Music Award for Festival of the Year.
• 🎤 Headliners for this year include Old Dominion and Cain Brown, with over 22 of the nation's top pit masters participating.

Culinary Delights from Top Chefs

• 🍗 Chef Art Smith offers his famous fried chicken from Reunion at Navy Pier, a dish enjoyed by everyone from religious figures to politicians.
• 🍖 Chicago Q features smoked wings with a distinctive mustard barbecue sauce.
• 🌭 Chef Chris Saxton presents a special Italian-style sausage made with fontina cheese, garlic, fennel, and pickle peppers.

Chef Art Smith's Notable Experiences

• 👑 Chef Art Smith shares anecdotes about cooking for Pope Leo XIV, who requested his fried chicken, biscuits, and hummingbird cake.
• 🎤 He also recounts cooking for Lady Gaga, noting that the comfort food favorites remain the same regardless of the client's fame.
• 🇺🇸 Smith has also catered for inauguration events, highlighting the universal appeal of comfort food.

Festival Information

• 📍 The Windy City Smokeout is held annually in Chicago, drawing thousands of attendees.
• 🎟️ More information, including performance schedules and ticket details, can be found at windycitysmokeout.com.