Eight barbecue vendors will fire up their smokers along the shores of Lake Dora this Saturday as Mount Dora's Pitmasters and Pourers festival returns for its fourth year — this time with no admission fee at all. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Elizabeth Evans Park, 100 N. Donnelly St., and wraps the evening with a 300-drone light show over the water.
The shift to free entry marks a notable change from past editions. As reported by the Orlando Sentinel, attendees previously bought tickets that included tasting vouchers, but this year they'll purchase food and drinks directly from vendors instead. The City of Mount Dora confirms the same structural change on its own event page, noting the 2024 festival required paid admission with included tastings, while the 2026 edition eliminated entry fees entirely, according to the City of Mount Dora.
Eight Pitmasters Compete for Top Honors
Eight competitors are vying for the day's top pitmaster title: Knuckleheads BBQ LLC, Just Smoke It Yo!, Taste ISMM LLC/Rollin' n Smokin', The Celtic Cistin, Jimmy Bear's BBQ, TBG BBQ, Meatheads BBQ Food Truck LLC, and Hurts BBQ, according to Orlando Shine. Winners will be announced at a 7 p.m. barbecue awards ceremony, and organizers describe the roster as a mix of Central Florida caterers and mobile barbecue trucks.
The Sentinel's Patrick Connolly reports that the day's programming also includes a salute to veterans and first responders at 4 p.m., professional wrestling at 4:15 p.m., and country duo Thompson Square taking the stage at 5:45 p.m. Chris Carson, cultural and special events manager for the City of Mount Dora, said the event is the last of the summer season and commemorates both the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and America's 250th anniversary, per the same account.
A Grammy-Nominated Headliner and a Radio-Fueled Wrestling Card
Thompson Square, the husband-and-wife duo of Keifer and Shawna Thompson, earned a 2012 Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their double-platinum hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” according to the Grammy Awards. The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was named country radio's most played song of the year, per a statement from All American Speakers.
The festival's wrestling segment features Monsters Wrestling Orlando, an independent promotion founded by Real Radio 104.1 host Russ Rollins that showcases Florida-based talent such as former champion Amber Nova, according to Monsters Wrestling Orlando. Real Radio 104.1's Monsters in the Morning show provides personalities for the wrestling segment, the Sentinel notes, and the event is otherwise backed by sponsors including Traverse City Whiskey Co., Coors, Discover Lake County, and iHeartMedia stations 101.1 WJRR, 104.5 The Beat, and Magic 107.7, per Orlando Shine.
Musical entertainment continues into the evening, with regional act Naome Bradshaw & The Dot Coms booked to perform immediately after the 7 p.m. barbecue awards ceremony, the City of Mount Dora confirms. College football, including the UCF game, will also air on a large LED screen throughout the day, while a cigar lounge, cornhole, and a butterfly tribute to Dolly Parton round out the attractions, per the Sentinel's reporting.
Getting There and What to Bring
The festival is open to all ages but suggested for those 18 and older, and organizers encourage attendees to bring blankets and chairs. Service dogs are welcome, though other pets are prohibited, according to the Sentinel.
For those driving in, the festival takes place at Elizabeth Evans Park. The park itself provides the event's waterfront setting.
A Lakeside Backdrop With Regional Reach
Lake Dora provides the festival's lakeside backdrop.
Pitmasters and Pourers joins a packed calendar in Mount Dora, alongside the Mount Dora Arts Festival and Mount Dora Craft Fair. That year-round mix of downtown programming, organizers say, keeps drawing crowds to the historic lakeside city long after the barbecue smoke clears.
