For Texas barbecue fans, sampling the best can be a daunting job. There are the gas costs, of course, and all the waiting in line. Then road warriors must consider lodging. Rural towns may produce exceptional brisket, but few are well-known for luxurious linens.

Carnivores with less cultish levels of devotion know the best way to check out the scene is through a yearly pilgrimage to the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest.

The annual meatopia will blaze into Lockhart November 4-5. The juicy 2023 lineup, dropped on August 22, includes some of the most celebrated pitmasters in the state.

Drawing from barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn's "Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas" list and the September "25 Best New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas" update (which featured one San Antonio spot), the invitees reflect Texas' deep culinary traditions and growing diversity.

The shindig kicks off on November 4 with the BBQ World's Fair, a free street fair featuring live music, artisan vendors, cooking demos, and an array of vendors from Texas Monthly's barbecue lists and Taco Trail. Those wanting a more VIP experience can purchase an "Around the World" punch card entitling guests to exclusive bites from featured barbecue joints.

The honor roll includes the following, with more to be announced soon:

• Barbs-B-Q (Lockhart)
• Brix Barbecue (Fort Worth)
• CM Smokehouse (Austin)
• GW's BBQ (San Juan)
• KG BBQ (Austin)
• Khói Barbecue (Houston)
• The Original Black's BBQ (Lockhart)
• Sunbird Barbecue (Longview)

The weekend continues on November 5 with the giant Top 50 Picnic, a celebration of the finest craft makers in the state. The stellar lineup adds:

• 1701 Barbecue (Beaumont)
• 2M Smokehouse (San Antonio)
• Baker Boys BBQ (Gonzales)
• Blood Bros. BBQ (Bellaire)
• Brett's BBQ Shop (Katy)
• Brett's Family BBQ (Rockdale)
• Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue (Pflugerville)
• Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin)
• Cattleack Barbeque (Farmers Branch)
• Convenience West (Marfa)
• Dayne's Craft Barbecue (Fort Worth)
• Desert Oak Barbecue (El Paso)
• Eaker Barbecue (Fredericksburg)
• Evie Mae's Pit Barbecue (Wolfforth)
• Feges BBQ (Houston)
• Goldee's Bar-B-Q (Fort Worth)
• Guess Family Barbecue (Waco)
• Hays Co. Bar-B-Que (San Marcos)
• Helberg Barbecue (Woodway)
• Hurtado Barbecue (Arlington)
• Hutchins BBQ (Frisco)
• Interstellar BBQ (Austin)
• Killen's Barbecue (Pearland)
• LaVaca BBQ (Port Lavaca)
• LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue (Austin)
• LJ's BBQ (Brenham)
• Micklethwait Craft Meats (Austin)
• Miller's Smokehouse (Belton)
• Mimsy's Craft Barbecue (Crockett)
• Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth)
• Rejino Barbeque (Olton)
• Slow Bone (Dallas)
• Smokey Joe's BBQ (New Braunfels)
• Snow's BBQ (Lexington)
• Teddy's Barbecue (Weslaco)
• Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue (Tomball)
• Terry Black's Barbecue (Lockhart)
• Truth Barbecue (Houston)
• Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ (Buda)
• Zavala's Barbecue (Grand Prairie)

Although VIP tickets and weekend bundles have already been gobbled up, a few general admission tickets and punch cards remain for the weekend events. Snag them at texasmonthly.com.