6th Annual Jeff Michner Foundation BBQ Benefit 2026
April 25, 2026 11:00 AM until April 25, 2026 05:00 PM
About the event!
Location
Pig Beach BBQ Queens
35-37 36th St.
Astoria, NY 11106
RAIN or SHINE
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS $125 from 12:30pm - 5pm, includes all food and drink specified for the Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit.
VIP TICKETS $200 Includes Early Access at 11am - 5pm
TICKETS AVAILABLE on the DAY OF EVENT $135 at the Door
Children under 12 are free!
On Saturday, April 25th (11am-5pm), dozens of nationally-recognized pitmasters from across the country will reunite at Pig Beach BBQ in Queens, NY for the Sixth Annual Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit—an A-list meat smokin’ extravaganza organized by Pig Beach BBQ’s award-winning pitmasters Matt Abdoo and Shane McBride, and Pig Beach BBQ founder Rob Shawger in honor of their late friend, Pig Beach BBQ executive chef, Jeff Michner, who died suddenly in May 2018 at the age of 36, leaving behind his wife Sara, infant daughter Hayes, and twin sister Meghan, wife of Pig Beach BBQ’s Matt Abdoo.
The Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit is recognized as one of the country’s premier BBQ fundraisers, and will feature 25 indoor & outdoor food stations helmed by celebrated chefs and champion pitmasters including BBQ Hall of Famers Tuffy Stone (Cool Smoke BBQ, Virginia) and Chris Lilly (Big Bob Gibson BBQ, Alabama); 2x World Food Champion Mike Johnson (Sugarfire, St. Louis); and award winning chefs and food TV personalities Bill Durney (Hometown BBQ, Brooklyn), Amy Mills (17th St BBQ, Illinois), Carey Bringle (Peg Leg Porker, Nashville), and many more; as well as an onstage rib-eating contest presented by Prairie Fresh, specialty cocktails, pitmaster curated playlist, children’s face painting, silent auction, raffles and surprise guests.
The event also features a competitive component where pitmasters will vie for the coveted “People’s Choice” and “Judge’s Choice” awards, hosted by Daniel Vaughn. Regarded as one of the most influential voices in American barbecue journalism, Vaughn is the renowned Texas Monthly BBQ Editor, aka “Barbecue Czar of Texas”.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Jeff Michner Foundation, an established 501c3 nonprofit created by the Michner family, which supports families managing loss and grief and provides scholarships to graduating high school students with a love for cooking and golf - two of Jeff’s biggest passions in life.
To date, the event has raised close to $300,000. Those unable to attend can still support the Jeff Michner Foundation by donating online at www.jeffmichnerfoundation.com.
Losing Jeff is a loss we will never overcome, but it is our hope to keep his memory with us by celebrating his life and embracing the things he loved most: family, friends and great food!
Click HERE for tickets