The South Sound BBQ Festival

The South Sound BBQ Festival returns to Huntamer Park in Lacey this weekend, Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026, and this year, the Lacey South Sound Chamber added an entirely new Friday-night piece.

Friday, July 10, 5 to 9 PM is "Tap the Keg." Brand-new for 2026.
Sponsored by Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel.

The festival grounds turn into a summer hangout, cold drinks, live music, yard games, relaxed vibe. Adults only, 21 and over. If you've ever wished the BBQ Festival started on Friday, this is the answer.

Saturday, July 11, 11 AM to 7 PM is the full festival. All ages. Free. Live music, food, activities, local vendors. This is the flagship day.

New for 2026: the $5 Taste "BBQ Happy Hour" runs Saturday from 4:30 to 7 PM. Select barbecue vendors offer $5 tasting portions. Build your own mini barbecue tour, sample everyone before you commit, or just eat cheap between bands. Co-chair Shelley Nicholson (President-Elect of the Lacey South Sound Chamber) said the goal was to give people "a full experience — music, laughter, kids playing, and that feeling of summer in the South Sound."

Location: Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey.

Getting there: the Intercity Transit Center is one block from the park. Multiple approved lots nearby if you're driving.

FREE both days. You pay for what you eat and drink.

Real estate note: Huntamer Park is the heart of what makes downtown Lacey feel like an actual downtown. Woodland Square, the transit center, the shops, the residential density, this pocket has been quietly consolidating into a walkable urban core.

The BBQ Festival brings thousands of people through it each summer. If you're watching where Lacey grows next, you're watching this area.