Only in its third year, The Woodlands Barbecue Festival is fast becoming one of the state's must-do smoked meat events. The lineup for this year's festival, Oct. 7., proves that pitmasters, too, are recognizing that there's plenty of barbecue appreciation in the Houston burbs.

This year's barbecue joint lineup includes some of Houston's best and the state's most lauded smoked meat practitioners. Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball and CorkScrew BBQ in Spring – both in the top 10 of Texas Monthly's 2017 list of "The 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas" – will be in attendance.

Rising stars Blood Bros. BBQ of Houston, Feges BBQ of Houston, Harlem Road Texas BBQ in Richmond, and Daddy Duncan's BBQ (which won the Houston BBQ Throwdown on Sunday) are making the scene. They will joined by BBQ Godfather in Magnolia; Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville; Goode Co. BBQ of Houston, Reveille Barbecue Co. in Magnolia; Southern Q BBQ in Houston; Victorian's Barbecue in Houston, Spring Creek BBQ in Richardson; Tin Roof BBQ in Atascocita; and Roegels Barbecue Co. of Houston which placed in Texas Monthly's Top 50.

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Tickets are $50 general admission with unlimited barbecue samples; $100 for VIP including early admission (noon), two drink tickets, t-shirt and tote bag; children under 12 free. The festival, which sold out last year, will be held 1 to 4 p.m. at Town Green Park. The festival includes live music and activities for children.

For more information see thewoodlandsbbq.com.

Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture.