It’s the most exciting week here in Lynchburg as our tiny town transforms into a village more than 40,000 strong when the annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue returns to historic downtown Lynchburg and Wiseman Park this Saturday.

Lynchburg will host visitors from around Tennessee, the U.S., and even the globe this weekend, and there will be many, many foodies among them. Here are our suggestions for how they can eat their way through Lynchburg this week.

1 | Lynchburg Chamber Ribeye Steak Sandwiches – You may or may not know, but there’s another cooking competition slowly making a name for itself here in Lynchburg, the Frontier Days Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) Sizzle in the Hollow. It’s grown from 30 teams in its first year to 85 teams this past June. On Saturday, the Lynchburg Chamber will host a Ribeye Steak Sandwich booth during the Jack from 10 a.m. until they sell out, which usually happens quickly. Lynchburg’s own Dr. Bryant Morton of the Barking Pig BBQ professional cooking team and the award-winning SCA chefs will be preparing the popular local treat. Look for them near the Lynchburg Gazebo. All proceeds will benefit the Lynchburg Chamber.

2 | Cocktails at Company Distilling –If you haven’t visited Lynchburg in a hot minute, you might not realize that you can visit not one, but two distilleries while you are in town. Former Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller and 2017 Master Distiller of the Year Jeff Arnett founded Company Distilling back in 2020 and Lynchburg boasts one of their three locations right here on the historic square. They’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. You can pop by and enjoy a cocktail, order from the limited bar menu, and enjoy live music by Jeremy Noble.  

3 | Grilled Cheese on Crack at Barrel House BBQ – Yes, there will be food trucks in Wiseman Park on Saturday serving everything from roasted corn and tacos to authentic churros and barbecue cooked in a Cadillac. No really. But one of our own, Barrel House BBQ, will also serve a Lynchburg bucket list food, the world-famous Grilled Cheese on Crack. It’s a mound of pit smoked pulled pork, pulled chicken, or smoke sausage (our fave) topped with American or pepper jack cheese and Habanero sauce between two slices of Texas toast. Then, they grill it to seal in all the flavor. It’s the perfect barbecue weekend treat. You can find them on Mechanic Street near the park.

4 | Whiskey-Infused Ice Cream at Prince’s Parlor – After you’ve sampled all the salty things, you might be craving a sweat treat and Lynchburg’s own ice cream shop, Prince’s Parlor, serves the original whiskey-infused ice cream. You can try it in a waffle cone, shake, malt, or sundae or try their homemade JD whiskey topping. If you really want to do the damn thing, order the Lynchburg Legend-Dairy shake. If you’re lucky, you might also catch a Banana Pudding cookie from local Bee Blessed Bakery while you are there. Look for them on the historic Lynchburg Square.

5 | Breakfast at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant | You already know that Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant in Lynchburg is world-famous for their home-cooked lunches served family-style with a local hostess. This weekend, they’ll treat guests and locals alike to a rare treat, breakfast on Friday, October 10 beginning at 9 a.m. It will be served family-style and you can make a reservation at 931-759-7394.

6 | Woodard’s White Pimento Cheese – Local Derick Millsaps has been preparing the made-fresh-daily pimento cheese at Woodard’s Market for the past 20 years. It’s a local favorite that goes great piled high between two slices of sour dough, on top of a burger, or our favorite, served with corn chips. If you don’t have far to travel on your way home, grab some in the deli on your way out of town. They are located at located at 1415 Fayetteville Highway.•

{The Lynchburg Times is the hometown newspaper of Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We get an up-close, insider view of news and events happening in The Holler. If you’ve visited, and would like to follow goings on here in Lynchburg until you return, give us a follow over on Facebook.}