According to information compiled by Few.ae editor, the Open Fire Food Festival by Steve Harvey returns to Etihad Park on Yas Island for a two-day flame-kissed celebration on 8–9 November 2025, pairing celebrity pitmasters, hands-on demos and family entertainment in the UAE’s largest open-air venue. Expect a day-to-night programme with doors from midday and headline cooking stages running into the evening, culminating around 10:00 PM on Sunday. The concept blends live-fire technique with global flavours, making it a rare chance to watch world-class BBQ icons work the grills up close while you graze from dozens of food stalls.
Dates, timings and what your ticket unlocks
Weekend programming stretches across both days, with gates opening from 12:00 PM to give visitors time to explore zones before the main stage ramps up. General access grants you entry to chef demos, live music and family areas; upgraded tiers add faster entry, premium viewing and lounge access. Children under 12 typically enjoy complimentary entry with a registered adult, and group bundles help larger parties plan an easy, value-driven day out. Aim to arrive early if you want front-row spots at the pitmaster sessions or plan to stack multiple masterclasses back-to-back.
Who’s cooking: star pitmasters and special guests
The 2025 chef roster leans heavyweight. American BBQ legends long associated with the craft—names like Myron Mixon and Tuffy Stone—are billed alongside festival fixtures such as Lee Ann Whippen and storyteller-chef David Olson. The weekend format intersperses marquee demos with meet-and-greet windows, giving fans quick photo ops and signatures between sessions. Expect a mix of technique-driven segments (rubs, smoke management, resting) and showy cuts (brisket, tomahawks, whole ribs), plus nods to regional influences that make sense in a Gulf outdoor setting.
Venue profile: how Etihad Park handles big crowds
Etihad Park is purpose-built for large-scale live events, with an amphitheatre-style bowl and configurable staging that scales to roughly 40,000 fans for concerts and festivals. Broad concourses, multiple gate lines and clear wayfinding keep traffic moving, while the flat central field and raked sides maintain strong sightlines to the main stage. Family areas, prayer rooms, first aid and plentiful F&B islands are spread around the site; the park’s open layout also makes it easy to pivot between cooking zones, retail stands and the entertainment stage without backtracking.
Getting there from Dubai and across Abu Dhabi
Driving is straightforward via the E11/E12 corridors; follow Yas Island signs and local event wayfinding to Etihad Park, with visitor parking typically routed to Yas Mall’s Fashion or Grand Prix parking zones and short shuttle or walking connections to the gates. If you’re coming by public transport from Dubai, the intercity buses to Abu Dhabi Central pair well with a taxi or ride-hail to Yas Island for the final leg. Within the destination, the complimentary Yas Express shuttle loops between hotels, attractions and key venues, a handy option once you’re on the island.
Weather, dress code and comfort tips
The weekend outlook is warm and mostly clear, with afternoon highs around 33°C easing to ~21°C at night. Lightweight, breathable clothing, a hat and sunscreen are smart for mid-afternoon sessions; switch to a light layer after sunset if you plan to linger for the late demos or a band set. Closed-toe shoes make life easier around grills and crowded lawns. Hydration points and bars are dotted across the site, but it pays to top up before diving into a long masterclass.
On the ground: zones, queues and a smooth flow
Festival maps typically split the site into distinct areas: an Open Fire zone for chef and pitmaster demos, a main entertainment stage, a kids’ zone, an F&B corridor and a VIP lounge. Queues spike just before headline demos and again at dusk; the fastest way to keep momentum is to eat slightly off-peak and browse retail stands while large sessions turn over. Families should target the first hour after gates open for kid-centric workshops, when facilitators have the most bandwidth for hands-on help.
What you’ll taste and hear between sessions
Beyond the hero cuts, look for regionally tuned menus—smoked lamb specialties, charred seafood, and spice-driven sides that balance the richer meats—plus plenty of meat-free options around the stalls. Bars pour classics and low- or no-alcohol serves for afternoon pacing. Live bands and DJ interludes keep the energy up as stages reset, so you’ll rarely be without a soundtrack while you roam.
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