Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Pitmasters to Take Over Covington Plaza This Weekend for the Smoke on the River BBQ Fest

You can try some unique, mouthwatering dishes like the Grippos BBQ Sundae and the BBQ Pineapple Boat at the annual fest.

May 9, 2023 at 10:21 am

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Photo: facebook.com/SmokeontheRiverBBQ

Smoke on the River BBQ Fest

Some of Greater Cincinnati’s best pitmasters will be smoking and slow-roasting on Covington Plaza all weekend long at the third annual Smoke on the River BBQ Fest.

Smoke on the River BBQ Fest will return Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14. Organizers say they’re excited for the event to return to the Covington Plaza after high waters forced it to Newport last year.

“We have worked hard to secure the city’s best pitmasters for this event and are looking forward to serving some mouthwatering barbeque. Delicious food, ice cold drinks, and continuous entertainment is our blueprint and we look forward to putting on another great event,” Coldiron Enterprises event manager David Wertheim said in a press release.

Food trucks, festival vendors and local favorites like Sweets & Meats, Glier’s Goetta and House of Brisket will be on hand with their mouthwatering menus and unique dishes like the Grippos BBQ Sundae and Cherrywood Smoked Sandwiches. Drink options include various craft brews – as well as Miller and Coors – frozen margaritas and Ole Smoky frozen bourbon slushies.

The event is family-friendly and will also have inflatables that offer unlimited play with the purchase of a wristband and live music.

Smoke on the River BBQ Fest is free to attend. Daily hours are 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Covington Plaza, 144 Madison Ave., Covington. More info: cincyfests.com.

Slideshow

10 Under-the-Radar Barbecue Joints in Cincinnati You Must Try

13 Under-the-Radar Barbecue Joints in Cincinnati You Must Try

Bucks Barbecue 462 Old Kellogg Road, Anderson Open Wednesday through Sunday, Bucks Barbecue started as a vendor at Over-the-Rhines Findlay Market and later opened a location on the East Side. The exterior of the restaurant looks more like a house, allowing guests to feel right at home. Classic dishes are offered, such as the expected pulled pork, baby back ribs and beef brisket. Bucks tries to add their own flair to the menu with dishes like maple-glazed carrots and their Barnyard burger  a burger topped with pulled pork and chicken. Photo: Adam Doty

Ollies Trolley 1607 Central Ave., West End Located in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollies Trolley is a soul food staple in the Cincinnati area. The eatery serves a variety of smoked pork including ribs, rib tips and pulled pork, plus plenty of sides like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. Other local favorites include their smoked turkey plate, Big Ollie burger and hot dogs. Photo via Facebook/OlliesTrolleyCincinnati

Alabama Que 2733 Vine St., Corryville Alabama Que proudly boasts on their website that they are the home of the turkey tips. This restaurant was founded by Dwan Ward in 2008, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. An Alabama native, Wards restaurant oozes Southern charm and a food truck was added to the business to keep up with growing demand. Every menu item consists of meat, sauce, one side, bread and a small beverage. Some meat options include smoked chicken, beef ribs, smoked salmon and, of course, the famous turkey tips. Photo via Alabama Que Facebook

C&M BBQ Grill 6457 Kennedy Ave., Kennedy Heights C&M BBQ Grill offers many combo dishes, including their curried chicken, pork chop, baby back ribs and catfish dinner combos, all served with two sides of your choice. They also serve sandwiches, wings and more. Perhaps most interestingly, C&M serves Jamacian sodas. Photo via Image from Google Maps

Mcks Chicks 11 W. Seventh St., Covington With their mascot being a chicken holding a thumbs-up, Mcks Chicks is confident about their menu. Taking barbecue and adding a contemporary twist, Mcks Chicks has the option to put barbecue into tacos, offering smoked chicken, pulled pork and brisket. They also offer nachos and sliders with a variety of meats. Other notable mentions include their shark taco, brisket chili, bacon-wrapped baby backs and chicken chorizo burritos. Photo via Facebook/Mckschicks

Midwest Best BBQ and Creamery 663 Justice Court, Loveland Midwest Best BBQ and Creamery proves the slogan on their website  fast food is not good, and good food is not fast  to be true. Founded in 2009 to sell their MB Simply Sweet BBQ sauce, Midwest Best BBQ quickly evolved into a popular restaurant. Their menu boasts entrees including a chopped chicken sandwich, a smoked turkey wrap, smoke-fried wings, sweet-n-smoky ribs and more. They also serve delicious sides like creamy slaw and baked beans. They like to pair their barbecue with ice cream, offering scoops, milk-shakes and malts, sundaes and more. Photo via Facebook/MidwestBestBBQ

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...