Southern Smoke Festival 2026 Tickets Are On Sale Now

Join us for an unforgettable experience of incredible food, drinks, and community on Saturday, October 3. This year, almost 100 celebrated chefs, beverage professionals, and hospitality visionaries will come together for an afternoon of world-class bites, libations, live music, immersive experiences, and more, all to raise critical funds for emergency relief and mental health support for food and beverage workers nationwide.

Leighann Bakunas

Secretary

LeighAnn Bakunas is the Director of Food, Beverage, and Music for YETI where she currently leads and manages the marketing efforts to drive awareness, affinity, and advocacy for the brand and products within these communities globally. She has over 15 years of professional experience in the marketing realm. Prior to YETI, LeighAnn was the Special Events Director of Texas Monthly where she oversaw the events division and marketing and promotional efforts for Texas Monthly’s TMBBQ brand and Texas Monthly advertisers. She graduated from Texas State University – San Marcos with a BBA in Marketing and is on the Leadership Council for the Andy Roddick Foundation and a member of the Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin Chapter.