Somewhere, not too far away, a pitmaster is firing his coals and preparing a low and slow cook in hopes of taking home the title of Grand Champion this weekend at the Q-City Charlotte Barbecue Championship, along with an opportunity to represent the Southeast at the 2013 World Food Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.

Now, that's what I call a serious pressure cook (insert laugh track here, please and thank you).

For the rest of us, it means a weekend-long festival filled with damn good barbecue, live music, festivities and the company of 100,000 of your closest friends. Beginning tomorrow, the 11th annual Q-City Charlotte Barbecue Championship (formerly known as the BBQ&Blues Festival) returns to Uptown for two full days of smoked meat mayhem, porky delights, beer and another fantastic excuse to get outside and enjoy the fall. Oh, and did we mention it's free to get in?!

Of course, a festival that takes up four blocks of Tryon Street is not without its logistical feats. Here's everything you need to know for your festivus pleasure:

Travel Tips and How to Get Around:

List of Street Closures

Event Map with bathroom locations. (Super important when you're sipping on beer)

Schedule of Events

Happening in conjunction with the festival is the first annual Carolina Brew Challenge, held at the Epicentre on Saturday from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Forty Carolina breweries will compete for the People's Choice Award for Best Brew. Come sample the competition. Tickets can be purchased here.

For more information on the Q-City Charlotte Barbecue Championship, visit http://charlottebbqfestival.com.