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Friday 4pm - 11pm Saturday 10am - 11pm

WhistleStop Festival

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United States
Huntsville, AL
WhistleStop Festival

A foot-stompin', pig-chompin' two-day festival at MidCity District. Live Music, BBQ and more! Visit WhistleStopWeekend.com for more information!

03/02/2026

FIRE UP THE SMOKERS! 🔥 Registration for WhistleStop 2026 is officially OPEN! Whether your team is a seasoned champion or a Backyard legend in the making, now is the time to claim your spot.

Slots fill up fast, so don’t get left in the smoke! 💨

📍 Register your team here: https://bit.ly/WhistleStop26
🤝 Want to Volunteer or Sponsor? Join the crew that makes the sizzle happen! Email Joanna at [email protected].

01/12/2026

SAVE THE DATE: WhistleStop Festival returns to MidCity October 16 and 17, 2026! 🐽🔥

Thank you to the fantastic cook teams who participated in our feedback survey on 2025's event. Along with our sponsors and volunteers, we've received some fantastic ideas for making our new site the best it can be. We're excited to share about this year's Fest in the coming months. Stay tuned!

Registration opens March 1st! We can't wait to see our WhistleStop fam again, and sizzle on with all of you!

10/24/2025

The photos are in, and we are yellin' CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the 2025 WhistleStop BBQ Festival contest! These Barons of Blaze brought the sizzle and took home cash prizes totaling $4,300, not to mention the gorgeous awards created by Woodtech.

GRAND CHAMPION
Hickory Hangover

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
Serial Grillers

TOP TEN OVERALL SCORES
1. HICKORY HANGOVER - 354.2744
2. Serial Grillers - 353.1200
3. Electro-Que-ted - 351.9888
4. Gustoso BBQ - 351.9772
5. PUDDLEDUCK BBQ - 349.6912
6. Hensel Phelps - 348.5828
7. Wee Daddy's BBQ - 347.9772
8. LEE LA Q - 347.3712
9. Smoke Rings & BBQ Dreams - 345.1316
10. Los Diablos - 345.1088

WINNERS - CHICKEN
1. Electro-Que-ted
2. Hickory Hangover
Wee Daddy's BBQ

WINNERS - RIBS
1. Puddleduck BBQ
2. Hensel Phelps
3. Coldwater Creek

WINNERS - DESSERT
1. Angie Siddiqui
2. Full Throttle BBQ
3. Big Back BBQ

PEOPLE'S CHOICE - PULLED PORK
1. All Things Covered N'Smoke
2. Blood Sweat & Titos
3. Hickory Hangover

PEOPLE'S CHOICE - WINGS
1. All Things Covered N'Smoke
2. Blood Sweat & Titos
3. Just for Fun BBQ

THANK YOU to our fantastic teams, dedicated contest volunteers, and generous sponsors. Save the date for October 16 and 17, 2026!

10/18/2025

🔥What an INCREDIBLE Friday at WhistleStop! 🐽 Gates are open now for Saturday. Pulled pork tastings are FREE as part of your ticket, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and lasting until supplies last. We'll have the ballgames on and our FANTASTIC music lineup begins at 1:00 p.m. and lasts all day! 🎶 Now for some Saturday SIZZLE!

10/16/2025

🔥The moment we've been waiting for is almost here! 🔥The tents are up, the stage is set, and the judging area is ready. WhistleStop setup is nearly complete! Our awesome cook teams roll in tomorrow, and the sweet smell of BBQ smoke officially kicks off the festival tomorrow evening!

We want to extend a massive THANK YOU to the dedicated people who make this event possible:

Our Sponsors: To our generous sponsors, your support is the backbone of WhistleStop. We couldn't bring this incredible BBQ, music, and fun to MidCity without your commitment. Thank you for investing in our mission of building community through events like this!

Our Volunteers: The tireless, wonderful volunteers who have spent hours setting up—you are the heart and soul of WhistleStop. We are deeply grateful for your hard work and enthusiasm!

And YOU: the cook teams, the barbeque lovers, the judges, the musicians...YOU make this festival the community treasure it is. We can't wait to see you - gates open at 4:00 p.m.!

We're ready for an amazing weekend! Get your tickets now: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WhistleStop2025/Register.

10/15/2025

Smoky smells, sizzling sounds, and community spirit! 🔥 The WhistleStop BBQ Festival is back, and it's the perfect way to experience the best of the Rocket City.

Whether you're a Huntsville native, a brand-new resident, or just visiting, come enjoy the KCBS cook-off, amazing live music, local vendors, and the People's Choice tastings this weekend in MidCity!

Click below to see what the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau is talking about and grab your tickets before prices go up at the gate! https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WhistleStop2025

10/13/2025

🍖 Smoke, Sizzle, and So Much More! 🎸Thinking of heading to WhistleStop BBQ Festival this weekend? Get ready for a good time!

Pro Tip: Your ticket is your pass to the party, not a BBQ buffet. But don't worry, here's how to feast on the fun (and the food!):
- Be the Judge: Get your free People's Choice tastings! You get to sample the teams' wings (Friday) and pulled pork (Saturday) and cast your vote for the best. Hurry—it's while supplies last!
- Rock Out: Catch fantastic live music all weekend on the MainStage! Bring your chairs and settle in.
- Chill & Chat: Watch the big games at the Window World Picnic Zone.
- Shop Local: Explore the local market vendors or purchase your fest shirt, sponsored by Redstone Federal Credit Union.

WhistleStop is HERE! Come for the smoke, stay for the show. Get your tickets TODAY at the advance price of $15 per day or $25 for the weekend: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WhistleStop2025.

Thank you to our Social Media Sponsors:
Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical
Leaf Home Safety Solutions
Arctic Kings LLC

10/10/2025

Get ready for local music, vendors, and BBQ! Your weekend is booked for the WhistleStop BBQ Festival October 17 and 18, featuring some of the best smoked meats, a fantastic lineup of live bands, and fantastic local vendors!

🎶 What Your Ticket Includes:
- Entry to the festival and access to the live music stage!
- Access to all fantastic food and local vendors (BBQ and items sold separately).
- Fun for the whole family at The Pigpen area.
- Supporting the community initiatives of the Apollo Coalition!

🐷 How to Get FREE BBQ Tastings!
This is the only way to get complimentary BBQ: participate in our People's Choice competitions! Your vote helps crown the champ, and you get delicious, free tastings (while supplies last!).
- Wings Tastings - Friday - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
- Pulled Pork Tastings - Saturday - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Don't miss out on the flavor or the fun! We can't wait to see you there! ➡️ Get your tickets now: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WhistleStop2025

10/09/2025

Beyond the smoke rings and championship ribs, the spirit of WhistleStop is built on community support! We would like to extend a huge thank you to our social media sponsors.

Their commitment ensures we can continue sharing the Apollo Coalition's mission of building community and inviting you to support us through the WhistleStop Festival.

Help us send the love back! Please Like and Follow our social media sponsors’ pages and see how they are investing in our community!

Connect with Our Partners:
Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical
Leaf Home Safety Solutions
Arctic Kings LLC

10/06/2025

We're officially out of smoke signals!💨WhistleStop backyard team slots are SOLD OUT! Thanks to everyone bringing the fire! Don't worry, there's still time to bring the sugar. The brand new Dessert Contest is waiting for your best pie, cake, or treat. Get your spot before they vanish, too! 🏆🍪 Registration includes your admission to the fest. For all the info, click here: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WhistleStop2025/Register

10/03/2025

TWO WEEKS from today we'll be sizzlin' and singin' in MidCity at the 2025 WhistleStop Festival! Who'll be there?

Don't forget about our awesome local music lineup. From bluegrass to classic rock to the oldies you love, these musicians will entertain us all weekend long!

Tickets are only $15. Get yours today: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WhistleStop2025

10/01/2025

A few vendor spots remain for this year's Fest! 🛍 Have an item or service the WhistleStop crowd would be into? Reach out today to request a vendor application. 📝Comment here, shoot us a message, or email [email protected].

Address

1030 Mid City Drive
Huntsville, AL
35806

Opening Hours

Friday	4pm - 11pm
Saturday	10am - 11pm

Website

https://www.midcitydistrict.com/whistlestopfestival

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A foot-stompin', pig-chompin' two-day festival on the grounds of the Huntsville Depot. Live entertainment, Family Fun Zone, and professional and amateur BBQ cooking competitions. Proceeds support the EarlyWorks Family of Museums. Visit and "Like" our other pages: EarlyWorks Family of Museums Santa's Village Rocket City Beach Bash