Some of Texas’ top pitmasters are headed to the Hill Country. Southern Living magazine will host its first Hill Country Tailgate⁠ at Fredericksburg's Contigo Ranch on September 26.The inaugural festival will feature a lineup of chefs with James Beard Award, Texas Monthly, and Michelin recognitio n under their belts, including Austinites Ali Clem of la Barbecue, Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis, and Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ. Kelli Nevarez of Port Lavaca’s LaVaca BBQ and Adrian Torres of Máximo in Houston round out the crew.Hosted by Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans, the event pairs the smoked meats with cocktails, live music, and college football on a big screen. Tickets also include a complimentary tour of the 2026 Southern Living ⁠Idea House⁠ located Idea House in Friedën, a 130-acre Fredericksburg development featuring parks, nature trails, and lakes.The magazine has recently been going all in on the once-sleepy Hill Country town. In addition to the Idea House, Southern Living named Fredericksburg one of its Best Small Towns in the South⁠ in March. "Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals," the report's author gushed. "Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside."⁠Tickets⁠ to the one-day event are $195 and include barbecue tastings, cocktails, beer and wine pours, and football viewing. The shindig runs 6-10 pm at Contigo Ranch, 13454 Lower Crabapple Rd. ...read more read less