The Great American Backyard BBQ is an unabashed “Star-Spangled” salute to good music and great food! Live country and blues music on three outdoor stages includes regional blues acts and “up-and-coming” country music artists to entertain thousands of residents and visitors to the Virginia Beach resort.

The heart and soul of the Great American Backyard BBQ is the food. BBQ vendors will sample and sell food up and down the boardwalk. These BBQ “specialists” have won national cooking contests and appeared on the Food Network and other national television programs.

The “Heroes Walk” stretches along the boardwalk from 17th to 31st Streets. Original essays written by local high school students are reproduced on four by eight foot banners easily read by passers-by. These essays describe the military conflicts in which the United States has been involved throughout history. They help to remind us of the price that has been paid and is still being paid today by the United States military.

A fireworks show on Sunday night completes the weekend, with bursts of red, white, and blue light reflecting over the ocean in a thrilling climax to the Great American Backyard BBQ event.

Entertainment Schedule

Friday, May 22:

17th Street Park
8:00pm-9:00pm, Katie Armiger (Country)
9:30pm-10:45pm, Steve Azar (Country)

24th Street Park
8:00pm-9:00pm, Jessica Andrews (Country)
9:30pm-10:45pm, Keith Anderson (Country)

31st Street Park
7:30pm-8:45pm, The Michael Clark Band (Blues)
9:15pm-10:45pm, Roomful of Blues (Blues)

Saturday, May 23:

17th Street Park
8:00pm-9:00pm, River City Gang (Country)
9:30pm-10:45pm, Sammy Kershaw (Country)

24th Street Park
8:00pm-9:00pm, Danielle Peck Trio (Country)
9:30pm-10:45pm, Earl Thomas Conley (Country)

31st Street Park
7:30pm-8:45pm, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Little Smokey Smothers (Blues)
9:15pm-10:45pm, Elvin Bishop (Blues - 2009 Grammy Nominee)

Sunday, May 24:

17th Street Park
8:00pm-9:00pm, Sean Patrick McGraw (Country)
9:30pm-10:45pm, Colt Ford (Country)

24th Street Park
8:00pm-9:00pm, River City Gang (Country)
9:30pm-10:45pm, Jason Michael Carroll (Country)

31st Street Park
7:30pm-8:45pm, John Mooney and Bluesiana (Blues)
9:15pm-10:45pm, Marcia Ball (Blues - 2009 Grammy Nominee)