In the world of New York City barbecue, few events have been more meaningful than the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, which was held between 2002 and 2018. That event brought many of the top pitmasters from around the country to Madison Square Park in Manhattan, including the likes of Rodney Scott, Chris Lilly, Ed Mitchell, Pat Martin, and Sam Jones. It regularly attracted tens of thousands of BBQ fans and was one of NYC’s most attended annual events.