In The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews sings about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens being a few of her favorite things. Well sorry Julie, but my rendition of the song would have to include beer bourbon and BBQ. Would you believe me if I told you that I spent 4 hours of my Saturday this past weekend attending a festival that celebrates these three things?

 I would not believe it either, so luckily I took some pictures as proof that such an event exists.

I have showed you my opinion on BBQ in past posts, but I am also a huge beer and bourbon fan! You might be wondering, what does one find at a Beer Bourbon and BBQ festival ?

Well lets start with the beer and bourbon. But first let me set the scene. Upon paying your $35 (seem like a lot, keep in mind it is for unlimited tastings of 60 beers and 40 bourbons) for admission you are handed a tasting glass. Think of this as your key to the amazing world you see in front of you.

Here is what you can find at those amazing tents.

You get the idea. You can fill that little glass up as many times as you like with all sorts of beers and bourbon. A few of my new favorites I discovered were Sweet Water Brewing Companies Blue and Catawba Valley Brewing Companies White Zombie Ale. I of course could not pass up a visit to the Jack Daniels or Firefly booth.

Ok enough with the booze, you get the idea. Now time for the BBQ.

Mmmm pulled pork sandwiches and pork from a whole hog pig pickin! Yes that is right, they had a whole hog that was cooked!

As you can see, that pig is almost picked clean! I have always wanted to cook an entire pig, and after tasting the end result I will do it at some point this summer. A little before and after.

So how do you make a festival like this even better?

Have pig racing of course! There were also goats that raced, but it gets better!

Ducks! I can now say that I have seen Ducks race! I would have to rate this as one, if not the best Saturday afternoons I have had yet this year. What can get better than an afternoon filled with great weather, beer, bourbon, and BBQ? O, and it was walking distance from my apartment! There are several of these festivals across the country. Check out their website and see if there is one near you. If there is, attendance is a must!