Over the years, we have seen a significant turnover of local friends (primarily due to people graduating and moving…ugh), with only a few people remaining from the early years of MeatFest. Many of you have no idea where this glorious idea came from. Sit back, relax, and I’ll tell you.

It began with a simple dinner party. Derek had recently begun smoking meats, so we had maybe 8 friends over for dinner. He smoked a pork loin and wanted to smoke a chicken too. His brother had recently had a bad experience with smoking a chicken, so fearing a dearth of meat, Derek also prepared a beer-can chicken. Of course the smoked chicken was delectable, and a couple of friends backed out, resulting in absurd meat:person ratio.

How could we not take this idea and create an annual event, an event in which meat is over abundant and gluttons can come together for one night of carnivorous bliss?

MeatFest grew over the years until we moved to Indianapolis in 2011 and it was put on pause. When we returned to Bloomington in late 2015, we decided that there should be a major resurgence of MeatFest, and we began that mission in 2016.

We are excited to have you join us this weekend for MeatFest 2017 – Get the Meat Sweats!