BBQ & Boots Fest Is Coming To Riley Park For Memorial Day Weekend
The Charleston RiverDogs are presenting BBQ & Boots Fest at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026, bringing barbecue, live country music, vendors, games, and western wear to the ballpark. The event is listed as an all-ages festival with doors opening at 11 a.m.
The festival is part of a packed holiday weekend across Charleston, giving locals and visitors another daytime option before the evening concert, nightlife, and Memorial Day Weekend party calendar picks up.
BBQ, Boots, And Live Country Music
BBQ & Boots Fest is built around a simple theme: barbecue, live music, and festival-style fun.
The event listing encourages guests to bring their appetite and western wear, with barbecue, vendors, games, and live music planned throughout the event.
This year’s featured performer is Austin Burke, a country artist known for songs including “Whole Lot In Love.” Event listings note that Burke has earned major streaming attention, had music featured on SiriusXM’s The Highway, and made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2019.
Event Details
What: BBQ & Boots Fest
Where: Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park
Address: 360 Fishburne Street, Charleston, SC
When: Saturday, May 23, 2026
Doors: 11 a.m.
Reported event time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Featured performer: Austin Burke
Ages: All ages
Presented by: Charleston RiverDogs
Ticket listings show general admission, VIP, and Ultimate VIP options. VIP-style listings include perks such as express admission, a festival T-shirt, drink vouchers, and in the Ultimate VIP tier, an all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet and indoor club lounge access.
Why It Matters
BBQ & Boots Fest adds another major daytime event to Charleston’s Memorial Day Weekend calendar.
Between Spoleto, concerts, farmers markets, brunches, rooftop events, nightlife, Blue on the River, Willie Nelson at Firefly Distillery, Niko Moon’s Good Time Fest, and other holiday weekend events, Charleston has no shortage of things happening. BBQ & Boots gives the weekend another easy-to-understand option: food, music, vendors, games, and a family-friendly festival setting at Riley Park.
It also gives the RiverDogs another event-style use of the ballpark beyond baseball, continuing the trend of local venues becoming multi-use entertainment spaces for festivals, concerts, markets, and community events.
Before You Go
Guests should check directly with the Charleston RiverDogs or the official ticket/event page before heading out for ticket availability, parking information, weather updates, permitted items, and any final schedule changes.
For anyone looking for a daytime Memorial Day Weekend move with barbecue, country music, and festival energy, BBQ & Boots Fest is one to keep on the radar.
