Texas barbecue festivals usually involve standing in line with a paper tray and sweating through your shirt before noon. Camp Lucy is going in a very different direction this summer.

The luxury Hill Country resort in Dripping Springs has announced “Live Fire: A Hill Country Culinary Series,” a three day immersive barbecue master class designed for people who want to get a lot closer to the fire than the average backyard cookout.

Taking place July 27 through 29 at Camp Lucy, the event combines hands on cooking sessions, elevated dining experiences, premium beverage pairings, and direct access to some of the biggest names shaping modern Texas barbecue.

Instead of simply tasting smoked meats from a lineup of vendors, attendees will spend the weekend learning techniques directly from award winning pitmasters and chefs whose restaurants have earned recognition from Michelin, Texas Monthly, and the James Beard Foundation.

A More Elevated Take on Texas Barbecue

Camp Lucy’s approach feels less like a traditional food festival and more like barbecue summer camp for serious food people. In a good way.

Throughout the weekend, guests will participate in live fire cooking sessions covering butchery, meat science, seasoning techniques, fire management, and multi format cooking over open flame. The programming is intentionally intimate, giving attendees one on one access to the culinary talent leading the sessions.

The featured lineup includes Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Noah Hester of Hamm’s Meat + Market, Dave McCormack of Wilson’s BBQ, and Phillip Helberg of Helberg Barbecue.

That roster alone is enough to get barbecue obsessives paying attention.

LeRoy and Lewis earned a Michelin Star in 2024 while also landing inside Texas Monthly’s Top 10 BBQ list, helping redefine what modern Texas barbecue can look like. The broader chef lineup reflects a mix of traditional Central Texas technique alongside globally influenced live fire cooking styles.

Vineyard Lunches, Sunset Dinners, and Hill Country Hospitality

The VIP three day package leans heavily into the hospitality side of the experience.

Guests begin Monday evening with a private welcome dinner at Tillie’s before diving into a full day of cooking sessions Tuesday. The programming also includes a vineyard lunch, a sunset dinner at Sacred Oaks with live music, and a farewell brunch before departure on Wednesday morning.

The event will also feature integrations and tastings from partners including YETI, Dripping Springs Vodka, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Milam & Greene Whiskey, and Rosewood Ranches.

Honestly, this thing sounds dangerously close to convincing a lot of Austin food people they suddenly need to become “fire management enthusiasts.”

Ticket Options and Pricing

The full VIP three day experience runs July 27 through 29 and includes accommodations at Camp Lucy, all meals and beverage pairings, hands on master classes, private events, tastings, swag, and charitable contributions benefiting a local nonprofit supported by Whim Hospitality.

Pricing is set at:

  • VIP Single Ticket: $2,500
  • VIP Couples Ticket: $3,250

For guests who cannot commit to the full experience, Camp Lucy is also offering an Immersion Single Day Pass for Tuesday, July 28.

The $450 pass includes:

  • full day access to live fire programming
  • vineyard lunch and sunset dinner
  • butchery and meat science sessions
  • tastings and activations
  • custom swag
  • charitable contribution

All experiences are 21 and older.

Tickets are available now through Camp Lucy’s official event page.