The Smoke Show BBQ Festival fired up in the OC for the very first time at The Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, headlined by country star Chris Young. This event comes from the creators of Boots in the Park, one of the most popular country music festivals.
When I first arrived at the festival, I took some time to wander through the booths which had some cool things including southern style clothing, cowboy hats, and belt buckles that added to the country feel. I also got to check out the food options at the OC Smoke Show. True to its name, the event was packed with BBQ vendors. Being from the South, I tend to be pretty picky about BBQ, but the selection here was impressive. I tried two different spots, and both were excellent. They definitely exceeded my expectations.
The first set of the night that I had the chance to cover was Chris Janson, who is well known for his hit song “Buy Me a Boat.” Chris Janson got the crowd on their feet within seconds of taking the stage, his energy was unmatched. As he performed, he took a second to call out all the military personnel and first responders, thanking them for their service and making it known that we would not be here celebrating country music if it wasn’t for their sacrifice. A little later into his set, he brought up a little girl that caught his eye singing along to his song at the top of her lungs, letting her finish the song with him and dance on stage; which she nailed by the way!
As the evening started heading to a close, it was time for the headliner, Chris Young. Chris is a multi-platinum country music artist and songwriter who’s a Grammy nominee, ACM and CMT award winner with several #1 hits on Billboard Country Airplay like “Tomorrow,” “Gettin’ You Home,” “Famous Friends” and more!
This was my first time seeing Chris live but it definitely won’t be my last. Chris had a unique stage presence with really cool visuals behind him. He was wearing a classic all-black fit, black jeans, boots, and a button-down that gave him a sleek look. The crowd was loving every minute. They were on their feet the entire time, singing along to every song. That’s how you know you’re in the presence of a true headliner who connects with his fans on every level. Chris performed a bit of his hit songs like “Gettin’ You Home,” which is one of my personal favorites! It’s also a song that recently resurged on TikTok, thanks to the viral use of the lyrics, “I don’t need this menu, no I don’t, I already know just what I want.” The trend introduced the track to a new generation of fans while giving longtime listeners a fresh reason to celebrate it. Chris even brought it up while performing the song, admitting he was surprised it had become a TikTok trend since the real meaning behind it is quite different. Still, he said he loved that it was blowing up again and reaching new listeners.
The first OC Smoke Show BBQ Festival was a hit that proved to be a festival worth attending. From the food, booths, and dance floors, to the lineup; they really know how to throw a festival and they couldn’t have picked a better headliner!
GALLERY: OC Smoke Show BBQ Festival at The Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, California (August 16, 2025)
