Ready Your Appetite for the 2019 Silver Lake Apple & BBQ Festival
Come to Silver Lake this September 13th and 14th for the annual Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple & BBQ Festival!
Every year, Silver Lake hosts this popular celebration, which kicks off the fall season in style. Featuring numerous activities — from two BBQ Cook-Offs and live entertainment, to contests, a craft fair, and more — the whole family will find something to enjoy.
The 2019 Apple & BBQ Festival: Fast Facts
When:
September 13th & 14th, 2019
10am – 9pm both days
Where:
Golden Township Park at Silver Lake Sand Dunes
8501 Silver Lake Road
Mears, MI 49436
Getting There:
The festival is located in the business district of Silver Lake, six miles west of US-31 from the Hart/Mears exit (Exit 149).
Where to Park:
Parking is available at area lodging. Shuttle service to the festival grounds will be available every ½ hour during select hours:
- Friday Shuttle Hours: 4:30pm – 9:30pm
- Saturday Shuttle Hours: 9:30am – 9:30pm
KCBS BBQ Cook-Off Competitions
The festival’s main events are certainly the Amateur & KCBS Professional BBQ Competitions.
The KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) prides themselves on being America’s Barbecue Experts. As the “world’s largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts,” the KCBS is the authority on everything barbecue. As such, they sanction more than 500 BBQ cook-off contests each year.
Silver Lake’s Apple & BBQ Festival will feature two KCBS-sanctioned BBQ cook-offs:
- The KCBS Professional BBQ Competition – Event categories include Poultry, Ribs, Pork, and Brisket.
- The Backyard Amateur BBQ Competition – Event categories include Wings & Ribs, Wings Only, and Ribs Only.
Festival goers will get a chance to sample the top-notch BBQs produced by all competing teams before judges evaluate each category and award prizes. The Backyard Amateur BBQ Competition awards will take place Friday, and awards for The KCBS Professional BBQ Competition will take place Saturday — both at the festival stages.
Other Festival Events and Activities
Of course, there’s much more to enjoy at this year’s festival, including fun for all ages. Here’s what to expect:
Both Days:
Live Entertainment
- Friday: Keith Scott @ 2pm, Olivia & The Aquatic Troupe @ 6pm
- Saturday: Rudy the DJ from Big R Productions @ 10am, Joe Johnson & The Bluebacks @ 6pm
Food Vendors & Beer Tent
Children’s Activities, Games, and Inflatables
Saturday:
Festival 5K Apple A Day Run
Homemade Crafts & Fresh Farm Apples/Produce Show
Classic Auto & ORV Show
BBQ Eating Contests
Apple Pie Contest
Baldy Hill Climb
See a full schedule of festival events, complete with locations, times, and registration details.
Planning Your Stay in Silver Lake
Whether you’re in town just for the festival or staying for the whole week, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes Area boasts an array of lodging options to meet your needs. From rustic campgrounds and RV resorts, to hotels, motels, and more, our Lodging Guide will help you find just the accommodations you’re looking for.
While you’re here, we also invite you to visit our world-famous Silver Lake Sand Dunes and find other fun things to do (there’s tons to choose from!). September is one of the best times of the year to visit the area as lines are shorter and the weather’s a bit cooler, yet the views and landscapes are still as gorgeous as ever.
We hope to see you this year at The Silver Lake Sand Dunes 2019 Apple & BBQ Festival!