Texas' most famous pitmaster joins up with Dallas' highest-ranked barbecue guy for food fest on Father's Day

UPDATED 9:32 a.m. on May 16, 2018: This story was originally published May 8. We're bringing it back in honor of National BBQ Day.

Does your dad want to eat barbecue on Father's Day? If you've got a grillin', outdoorsy dad, the answer might be yes.

Now in its first year, Birthright BBQ Fest is hosted in part by Texas' most famous pitmaster, Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue in Austin. The festival is on Father's Day, June 17, 2018, and also includes 'cue from pitmaster Todd David, the owner of Cattleack BBQ in Dallas.

"If we're going to put brisket together in Dallas, he's the man right now," Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn says of David.

These two barbecue joints are some of the best in Texas. In fact, Vaughn says Franklin is No. 2 and Cattleack is No. 3 in the state -- and he helped gather the talent for this festival. How's that for meat-me-there motivation?

What's more, Franklin Barbecue still boasts hours-long waits in Austin, and Cattleack in Dallas is only open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays and on occasional Saturdays.

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Beer comes from Four Corners Brewing Co. Other pitmasters expected at Birthright, according to the website, are Brent Reaves of Smokey John's BBQ in Dallas; Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ in Houston; Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin; and Elliott Moss of Buxton Hall in Asheville, North Carolina.

Birthright is so named because attendees will explore the history of Texas barbecue dating as far back as the 1850s. The event at Dallas Heritage Village will make use of the smokehouse on the property (cool, right?), and attendees can expect to see whole animals being cooked over coals.

Barbecue fans will find North Carolina pitmaster Moss, for instance, roasting the whole hogs. Franklin and others will be chatting with fans and working the coals and as they roast half a steer and some goats.

This is your warning now: Attendees will be able to see the whole animals cooked over coals.

Tickets cost $65 in advance; children 17 and younger are free and must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket. Tickets include barbecue (and sides like cole slaw and beans) plus beer and wine. Tickets will cost $75 at the door, but if this one's like other popular barbecue fests in Texas, it'll sell out beforehand.

"Texas barbecue is a birthright privilege for Texans!" the website says.

Amen, y'all.