Chasing the Smoke: Capturing the Heart of the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival
- Pat McBride
- Aug 2
- 4 min read
There is something deeply mesmerizing about painting en plein air in the historic Village of Pinehurst. Usually, my easel is set up to capture the quiet, ambient charm of our local landscapes—the soft morning light filtering through the longleaf pines, or the steady, peaceful bustle of a morning spent sketching at the Sandhills Farmers Market.
But when Labor Day Weekend rolls around, the entire atmosphere shifts. The air thickens with the rich, unmistakable aroma of hickory smoke, and the village transforms into a living canvas of motion, heat, and community celebration for the annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
Finding Inspiration in the Heat of the Moment
As an artist, I look for stories in everyday human connections. When I take my paint and palette to the festival, I am not just looking to paint a plate of food; I am looking for the passion that drives the event. The painting featured above is a slice of life I captured during a previous festival. While thousands of visitors fill the village streets to taste the region's best barbecue, the real magic happens right behind the smoke.
I set up my easel just steps away from the action, completely transfixed by the pitmasters working the grills. The scene was an incredible study of contrast:
The Color of Fire: The intense, brilliant orange of the bursting flames directly contrasted against the dark, ash-dusted aprons of the cooks.
The Expression of Focus: Look closely at the faces of the cooks in the painting. There is an incredible, quiet intensity in their eyes. Amidst the roaring heat, the clanking tongs, and the chatter of the crowd, they are completely dialed into their craft.
The Fleeting Elements: Capturing smoke and active fire in a painting requires working fast. The shapes shift every fraction of a second, forcing me to lean into raw, textured, impressionistic brushstrokes to convey that explosive energy.
Join Me This Labor Day Weekend
The beauty of plein air painting is that it invites you to slow down and truly look at the world around you. This coming September 4–6, 2026, I encourage you to do the same. As you walk through the Village of Pinehurst sampling incredible food, take a moment to look at the details—the glow of the coals, the smiles shared over shared tables, and the tireless dedication of the pitmasters.
If you see me out with my easel and paint-stained fingers during the festival weekend, please stop by, pull up a chair, and say hello!
To see more of my local work, gallery updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life around Moore County, you can explore my website Pat McBride Art or follow my live updates on the Pat McBride Art Facebook Page and on Instagram patmcbrideart.
Plan Your Weekend: The 2026 Festival Lineup
This year marks the 6th Annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, taking place over Labor Day Weekend from September 4–6, 2026. If you are joining us, my easel and I will be moving right along with the weekend's four signature culinary events:
Friday, Sept 4 (6:00 PM – 8:30 PM) | "High On The Hog Gourmet" Pitmaster Dinner: Staged at the historic Pinehurst Fair Barn. This kicks off the weekend with award-winning pitmasters Matthew Register (Southern Smoke Barbecue) and Lewis Donald (Sweet Lew's BBQ) teaming up with celebrated Got To Be NC chefs.
Saturday, Sept 5 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) | "Q"-School Grilling Class: Located at the Moore County Airport. Learn direct grilling instruction from Pitmaster Ron Simmons of Master Blend Family Farms.
Saturday, Sept 5 (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM) | "Bourbon & Bites": Hosted at Carolina Hall inside the Carolina Hotel. An intimate evening pairing premium whiskey and bourbon tastings with chef-crafted small bites from Pinehurst Resort’s iconic restaurants.
Sunday, Sept 6 (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) | Pitmaster Invitational: The grand finale main event in the heart of the Village of Pinehurst! Come watch the state's best pitmasters go head-to-head while sampling incredible food under the late summer sky. (VIP ticket holders get early access at 11:00 AM).
From Lakeside Serenity, Historic Fairways, and Live Melodies to Village Fire
What I love most about painting in this region is the ability to showcase the beautiful, multi-layered rhythm of Pinehurst life. In the span of just a single weekend, you can watch the sunset over the quiet ripples of Pinehurst Lake, sketch the classic silhouettes of golfers finishing their rounds on our world-famous historic fairways, and listen to the soulful sounds of our local live music scene echoing from village patios.
When you blend those experiences with the vibrant, smoky, bustling energy of the pitmaster tents, you get the absolute best of our community. It is a sensory playground for a plein air artist.
This coming September, I encourage you to slow down and truly soak in the details around you. As you walk through the village sampling incredible food and enjoying the live weekend soundtrack, take a moment to look closely—the glow of the coals, the smiles shared over shared tables, and the tireless dedication of the pitmasters.
If you see me out with my easel and paint-stained fingers during the festival weekend, please stop by, pull up a chair, and say hello!
To lock in your Labor Day plans, purchase tickets, or check out full vendor details, visit the official Pinehurst Barbecue Festival Website. To see more of my local work and gallery updates around Moore County—from golf greens and lakeside views to local music spots—you can explore the Pat McBride Art Website or follow my live updates on the Pat McBride Art Facebook Page.
Studio Address:
Phone: (910) 725-4315
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