For four days, from July 11-14, the food and music festival known as Windy City Smokeout ran wild outside the United Center, 1901 West Madison Street. Parking Lot C was packed with around 100,000 country culture fans each day and some had traveled a great distance for the hillbilly hoedown.
Presented by the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant Bub City, barbecue continued to be an important aspect of the Smokeout. Close to 30 pit masters presented pork to the Windy City population and the variety was astounding.