Grampians BBQ Festival
Description
The Grampians BBQ Festival is where low-and-slow BBQ culture meets premium regional escape.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Halls Gap in the Grampians (Gariwerd), this Father’s Day weekend festival brings together Australia’s top pitmasters, live blues & roots music, craft beer, small-batch spirits, smoky feasts and unforgettable festival atmosphere.
From the thrill of the ABA Pitmaster Challenge to late afternoons spent with live music, local beers and wine, fire pits and smoked meats - this is more than a BBQ festival.
It’s a weekend worth travelling for.
Whether you’re a backyard BBQ enthusiast, a family looking for the ultimate Father’s Day getaway, or simply chasing great food, great music and good humans - the Grampians BBQ Festival is your invitation to slow down, savour more and soak up one hellllll of a weekend.
Inspired by the rugged beauty of the Grampians and the craft of authentic barbecue culture, the festival celebrates fire, flavour, community and regional Victoria at its best.
This Isn’t Just A Festival. It’s A Father’s Day Weekend Tradition In The Making
Picture this:
Smoke drifting through the mountains.
Live blues rolling through Halls Gap.
A craft beer in hand.
The country’s best pitmasters going head-to-head.
Kids running around with sticky fingers and full bellies.
And an entire town buzzing with fire, flavour and good humans.
This is the inaugural Grampians BBQ Festival.
A full weekend dedicated to incredible food, music, community and the unmistakable atmosphere of the Grampians.
Come for the BBQ.
Stay for the experience.
Program includes:
Australia’s best pitmasters going head-to-head in the sanctioned ABA Pitmaster Challenge
Smoke-loaded BBQ vendors, regional eats, craft beers, local wines and small-batch spirits worth travelling for
BBQ vendors stocked with rubs, sauces, smokers, gear and all the goodies your inner pitmaster definitely “needs”
A live Blues & Roots music line-up bringing smoky, soul-filled energy across the entire weekend
FREE kids activities to keep the little legends entertained while the grown-ups settle in for the good stuff
Live demonstrations from the pros - because low and slow is serious business around here
And finally… official permission to skip the socks-and-jocks Father’s Day gifts this year and give him a weekend the whole crew will actually remember while making core memories
Event Times
Friday 4th
BBQ Trail (Halls Gap and surrounds)
From 4pm
Saturday 5 September – Festival site (ticketed)
11am - 8:30pm
Sunday 6 September – Festival site (ticketed)
10am - 5:00pm
FAQs
- What are the ticket release and tier options
We're all for forward planning. Choose wisely for large savings with the Early Bird release. Ticket prices do not including booking fees.
First Release
4 June - 12th July
$75 - Saturday GA
$70 - Sunday GA
$135 - Weekend GA
Second Release
13 July - 21 August
$86 - Saturday GA
$80 - Sunday GA
$150 - Weekend GA
Third Release
22 August - Gate
$98 - Saturday GA
$92 - Sunday GA
$170 - Weekend GA
KIDS
FREE - 0 - 4 Years
$15 - Saturday - 5 - 17
$15 - Sunday - 5 - 17
$25 - Weekend - 5 - 17
- Where is the Grampians BBQ Festival held?
The festival takes place in Halls Gap, Victoria, in the heart of the stunning Grampians (Gariwerd) region.
Venue: Halls Gap Recreation Reserve, Cnr Mountain Road and Mount Victory Road, Halls Gap VIC 3381.
- When is the festival held ?
The Grampians BBQ Festival runs across Father’s Day weekend:
Friday 4th September
BBQ Trail (Halls Gap and surrounds)
From 4pm
Saturday 5 September - Festival site (ticketed)
11am - 8:30pm
Sunday 6 September - Festival site (ticketed)
10am - 5:00pm
- Is there transport to the Grampians BBQ Festival?
Yes!
HUBER
Hugh Carey's Huber's Lifts is a local transport service offering trips to and from the festival across the weekend, servicing Halls Gap and the surrounding area. Check Huber's Lifts on Facebook for availability and bookings.
SHUTTLE BUS
NEED A BUS TICKET? 🚌
Festival shuttle tickets can be purchased under Skip to more Tickets button on the 2nd page after the weekend general tickets.We have a Hall Gap Return Shuttle Bus service running on both Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September, picking up from multiple locations across the Halls Gap township and dropping you right at the festival precinct. It's the easiest way to get to the festival - no parking stress, no designated driver, just a great day out.
Tickets are $20 return for adults and $10 return for kids, and limited seats are available so secure early so you don't miss out.
The early buses head straight into Halls Gap Township, giving you time to grab breakfast at a local cafe, let the kids play at the playground, and enjoy live music at Stony Creek right in the heart of town - all before the festival gates open. Later buses pick up from six convenient stops across the area and drop you directly at the festival entrance.
Return shuttles depart from the PTV Stop at the festival precinct from 6:00pm-9:15pm on Saturday and 4:00pm-6:00pm on Sunday, dropping passengers back at their original pickup location.
Bus tickets are sold separately to festival entry tickets and must be booked in advance. When booking, you will be asked to select your preferred bus run and confirm your pickup location.
Please note: no beach carts or trolleys are permitted on the bus.
- Is the festival family-friendly?
Absolutely. The festival is designed for all ages, with FREE kids activities, live entertainment, open spaces and family-friendly food options.
- What is the ABA Pitmaster Challenge?
The ABA Pitmaster Challenge is an official Australasian Barbecue Alliance sanctioned competition featuring some of Australia’s best pitmasters competing low-and-slow style across multiple BBQ categories. Serious BBQ. Serious bragging rights.
Your General Admission ticket allows access to the Pitmaster lane to see serious cooking in action before teams are judged on Sunday afternoon.
- What is the SCA Australia Cook off ?
The Steak Cookoff is sanctioned and run by the Steak Cookoff Association, held on Saturday afternoon / night, teams must cook 2 cuts of meat for judging.
Your General Admission ticket allows access to the Pitmaster lane to see serious cooking in action before teams are judged.
- What Can I bring to the Festival ?
CAN BRING
Picnic rugs and foldable chairs are welcome, so feel free to settle in and make yourself comfortable.
There will also be furniture positioned throughout the Festival site, however seating will be limited.
We strongly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle and making use of the water stations available across the site throughout the weekend.
You’re also welcome to use a trolley to transport your belongings to the Festival.
CAN'T BRING
To help keep the Festival safe, comfortable and enjoyable for everyone, there are a few items that can’t be brought inside the Festival grounds.
BYO food and drinks are not permitted. Pets are also not allowed, with the exception of registered assistance animals.
Tents and market umbrellas are not permitted within the Festival grounds.
For the full list of prohibited items and Festival conditions, please refer to the Festival Terms.
- Are food and drinks included in the ticket price?
Food and beverages are available for purchase from festival vendors, and bars.
- What is the BBQ Trail?
Before the main festival fires up, Friday night is your chance to eat, drink, explore and get amongst the region with the Grampians BBQ Trail.
Grab a Trail Passport at participating venues, collect 3 stamps, then take it to the Festival INFO Desk for spot prizes and a chance to win tickets to the 2027 Festival.
Here’s what’s happening across the region:
🔥 Great Western Hotel
Grampians Smoke, Stay & Shuttle - available all weekend.
Make a weekend of it with accommodation at the Great Western Hotel, breakfast at Salingers and return shuttle transfers to the festival in Halls Gap.
Book direct via @great_western_hotel
🔥 Leopold Hotel, Ararat
The Leo Smoke & Spirits - available all weekend.
The Leo is bringing together bold BBQ flavours and locally made Western Victorian spirits for a special festival activation.
Expect a festival-only BBQ special from the kitchen, paired perfectly with a limited-edition smoked Negroni made with Gallivanter Gin from Ballarat’s Itinerant Spirits.
Bookings via @theleoararat
🔥 @paper_scissors_rock_brew_co, Halls Gap
Local Blues band, The Doodads playing Friday night, plus enjoy new release Smoked Porter all weekend at the brewery and festival.
🔥 Grampians General Store, Pomonal
Stock up on BBQ meats, fresh bread and local produce on your way through Pomonal - everything you need to build a cracking platter or fire up your own BBQ session.
🔥 Raccolto Pizzaria, Halls Gap
Enjoy wood fired pizza and live tunes with DJ Lochie Friday PM, Russ Kellett Saturday PM, plus marshmallow toasting.
Book via raccoltopizza.com.au
🔥 @hallsgaplakesidetouristpark
In-house guests can toast the weekend with S’mores kits and campfires and make memories to last a lifetime
🔥 @flamebrothershallsgap
Live blues Saturday from 9am with Mike Elrington, plus Father’s Day breakfast tunes on Sunday with Grim Fawkner from 9.30am. Book to avoid missing a table.
🔥 @barneysbarbistro, Pomonal
Live blues, smoky BBQ and Saturday night sorted. Catch Mike Elrington from 6–8pm and settle in for good tunes, good ’ques and good times. - Will you cater for dietary requirements?
Yep! While BBQ is at the heart of the festival, there'll be a variety of bbq vendors catering for dietary needs.
- Can I bring my own food or drinks?
No BYO food or alcohol is permitted within the festival grounds.
- Cloak Room
You can plan on stocking up on goodies from our vendors - or taking home a bottle of your favourite whisky from the weekend and you don’t need to carry it around all day. Our complimentary cloakroom at the Information Desk is available to store your purchases securely.
Simply cloak your items and collect them when you depart the Festival, or by 10am Monday morning.
- Is there parking available?
Yes - parking is available close to the Festival site and Halls Gap has a terrific bike / walking path the entire length of the town making the festival site easily accessible.
- Are 4 legged friends allowed?
We love furry pets, but festival entry for pets is not permitted with the exception of registered assistance dogs.
- What happens if it rains?
Rain, smoke or shine - the festival goes ahead. After all, good BBQ doesn’t stop for weather
- Where should we stay during the festival?
Accommodation across Halls Gap and the wider Grampians region is expected to book quickly across Father’s Day weekend - so we highly recommend locking in your stay early.
Our preferred accommodation partner Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park offers the perfect weekend accommodation, with cosy cabins, campsites, high end camping amenities with heated floors and a year round wood fired heated pool, coffee window and natural wildlife right on the valley floor, their family-friendly accommodation offers something for every style of escape.
Check out more accommodation options and start planning your Grampians getaway at Visit Grampians
- Can I get a refund ?
The event is an all-weather event and will only offer a refund, partial refund or exchange if the event is cancelled, rescheduled or significantly relocated or to the extent otherwise required by law (including the Australian Consumer Law).
So, you see, once you’re in, you’re in! We don’t do refunds or exchanges for those “changed my mind” moments or sudden life plot twists. Rain, smoke or shine- we’re committed
Register your tickets with Tixel for resale!
- Do you offer group ticket discounts
We get it - everything’s better with your BBQ crew
At this stage, we won’t be offering group ticket discounts.
BUT… our Early Bird tickets are hands-down the best way to save a few bucks before prices roll to the next release.
So if you know you’re coming (and trust us, you’re gonna wanna lock this one in early), grab your tickets sooner rather than later.
More smoke. Less spendin’. Everybody wins
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
