4th Annual Smoke & Sunshine Festival

4th Annual Smoke & Sunshine Festival

Smoke & Sunshine Returns for Its 4th Year With a Star-Studded Live Fire Cooking Festival

One of South Florida’s most anticipated food events is back—and it’s bringing serious heat. The 4th Annual Smoke & Sunshine: Live Fire Cooking Festival returns on Saturday, January 24, taking over Tropical Smokehouse for an afternoon where fire, flavor, and top-tier culinary talent collide.

Hosted by barbecue authority Robert Jacob Lerma alongside Tropical Smokehouse Pitmaster Chef Rick Mace, this year’s festival promises to be the biggest and boldest yet. From the moment guests arrive, the atmosphere is electric—filled with rolling smoke, live music, craft drinks, and the unmistakable aroma of barbecue done at the highest level.

The 2026 lineup reads like a who’s-who of the barbecue world, bringing together Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard nominees, and competition champions from across the country. Pitmasters will showcase barbecue rooted in a wide range of global cuisines, including Thai, Egyptian, Chinese, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and more—pushing the boundaries of what live fire cooking can be.

Among the featured chefs and pitmasters:

• Curry Boys BBQ (Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia & Sean Wen)

• Elliott Moss (Elliott’s BBQ Lounge)

• Burt Bakman (SLAB LA)

• Lamar Moore (ETC Chicago)

• Kareem El-Ghayesh (KG BBQ)

• John Bates (Interstellar BBQ)

• Ernest Servantes & David Kirkland (Burnt Bean Co.)

• Esaul Ramos (2M Smokehouse)

• Hector Garate (Palmira BBQ)

• Shuai Wang (King BBQ)
  (Lineup subject to change—but the caliber remains unmatched.)

The festival is designed as a walk-around experience, with more than 12 live fire stations set up both indoors and outdoors. Guests can move freely between chefs, sample dishes straight off the fire, enjoy live music, and soak in the Sunshine State setting while tasting some of the best barbecue in the country.

Beyond the food, Smoke & Sunshine carries a powerful purpose. This year’s event benefits NAMI – the National Alliance on Mental Illness, with proceeds supporting mental health awareness within the hospitality industry—an important cause close to many chefs’ hearts.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, January 24

• Time: 12:00–3:00 p.m.

• VIP Entry: 11:00 a.m.

• Location: Tropical Smokehouse

Tickets:

• General Admission: $99 (includes all food)

• VIP: $139 (includes early entry + welcome cocktail)
  Beverages not included with GA tickets.

From the talent on the fire to the mission behind the event, Smoke & Sunshine isn’t just a food festival—it’s a full-throttle culinary experience. For anyone who loves barbecue, live fire cooking, or simply unforgettable food, this is one event not to miss.