Sights, Sounds, and Smokes: Capturing the West Texas Barbecue Festival
There is nothing quite like a West Texas weekend filled with the rich aroma of smoked hardwood, the distinct rumble of classic American engines, and the sweet sound of live country music drifting through the autumn air. On Saturday, October 17th, 2026, the team at Lightning Bilt took a trip out to Monahans, Texas, to document and experience the annual West Texas BBQ Bash at the Ward County Sports Complex. Gates opened to the public at 11:00 AM, welcoming families, food enthusiasts, and automotive lovers from across the region for a day packed with community spirit, fierce competition, and unforgettable entertainment.
The West Texas BBQ Bash is a non-profit organization originally founded in July 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by members of the local Oil and Gas Industry, the organization was established as a way to uplift families and give back to local West Texas communities during challenging times. Today, that original mission of service and togetherness shines through every aspect of the event, offering a completely free, family-friendly environment that truly has something for everyone.
What's the Plan?
As soon as we arrived at the Ward County Sports Complex, our first mission was simple: explore the venue and sample the wide array of competitive foods prepared by company cook teams. Wandering through the cook-off area, we indulged in the People’s Choice sampling, where vendors and teams offered small bites of their best creations. While each individual portion seemed modest, it did not take long before we started getting completely full from tasting so much incredible food!
The variety was outstanding. We tried everything from snappy, spicy smoked sausage and rich BBQ-style chili to tender, slow-smoked sliced brisket, homestyle macaroni and cheese, flavorful jambalaya, fried catfish with rice, and even refreshing mangonada frozen treats to cool down. Out of every dish we sampled throughout the afternoon, the sliced brisket and smoked sausage emerged as our clear, absolute favorites of the entire festival.
We were recruited!
Beyond casual sampling, our culinary adventure took an unexpected and exciting turn when we were recruited on the spot to serve as official judges for the CBA-sanctioned chicken competition. The organizers led us into a secure, locked green room designed to ensure total privacy and unbiased scoring. The entire judging process was exceptionally well-structured and organized. We were presented with eight different trays of BBQ chicken, which we evaluated based on three strict criteria: appearance, taste, and texture. Rating each submission gave us a newfound appreciation for the meticulous work, temperature control, and flavor balance that these cook teams put into every piece of meat.
Let's take a break...
For adults looking to relax between tastings, the event featured an exclusive VIP section complete with an outdoor bar serving refreshing ice-cold beer and handcrafted cocktails. It provided a comfortable spot to unwind in the shade while taking in the sights and sounds of the festival. Meanwhile, children enjoyed face painting, games, and an inflated bull-riding ring that kept the younger crowd entertained all afternoon, while local vendors lined the walkways with unique handmade goods.
And now for the Cars, Trucks & more!
Over on the car show grounds, vehicle enthusiasts were treated to an extraordinary lineup of custom builds, restored classics, and modern machines brought in from all over Texas. Our camera lenses were kept busy capturing iconic Classic Ford F-150s, vintage Chevy pickup trucks, timeless classic Mustangs, and hot rods spanning old-school builds to modern setups. We also spent plenty of time photographing sleek classic Chevys, high-horsepower muscle cars, classic lowriders, and aggressively lowered modern trucks. The motorcycle section was equally diverse, showcasing detailed lowrider-style bicycles, beautifully maintained classic motorcycles, and high-performance Ninja sport bikes.
To top off an already fantastic day
We made our way over to the main music stage to catch live entertainment. We managed to capture a performance by Chris Deanda, an up-and-coming country music artist from West Texas who delivered a great hour-long set from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, setting the perfect festive backdrop for the crowd.
Between the mouthwatering food, top-tier custom vehicles, and high-energy live music, the West Texas BBQ Bash delivered a prime showcase of West Texas culture and community support. It was an incredible afternoon in Monahans, and we are already looking forward to returning next year.
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Creative Director / Director of Photography
Ben Raigoza is a passionate storyteller with experience in branding, web design, photography, and video.