THE PROPOSED LULING LINKFEST: Discovering the Best Smoked Link Sausage in Texas.



THE PROPOSED LULING LINKFEST: Discovering the Best Smoked Link Sausage in Texas.


Honoring Luling, Links, and the Joseph Ulyses Lamkin Legacy in 2026.



Luling, Texas – When people think of Luling, they think of smoke, spice, and sausage. For generations, this Central Texas town has been a crossroads of barbecue culture, with pitmasters perfecting the art of the smoked link sausage—a tradition so iconic that travelers from around the globe make the pilgrimage just to taste it.



In Summer 2026, Luling will pair its culinary fame with a proud new chapter in American history as the hometown of Private Joseph Ulyses Lamkin, a World War I soldier of the famed 369th Infantry Regiment—the Harlem Hellfighters— and the city’s first Congressional Gold Medal recipient.


To honor both traditions of smoke and sacrifice, community leaders are launching Luling LinkFest: Luling, Links, and the Lamkin Legacy—a one-of-a-kind street festival and parade built around one burning question:


👉 Who makes the best smoked link sausage in Texas?





The Quest for Texas’s Best Smoked Link Sausage



Texas has many barbecue capitals, but the smoked link sausage stands in a class of its own. Every town, every pitmaster, and every family recipe adds a new twist to the tradition. LinkFest will bring them all together for a smoke-filled showdown, inviting sausage makers from Pittsburg, Elgin, Austin, Luling, Lockhart, and even small towns in Deep East Texas to compete for the ultimate crown:


“Best Smoked Link Sausage in Texas.”


From peppery, coarse-ground classics to slow-smoked blends kissed by mesquite or post oak, every pit will tell a story. And this year, it won’t just be up to the judges—the people will decide.





A Celebration Rooted in Heritage. 



Luling’s barbecue reputation has long been anchored by City Market, a temple of smoked link sausage where lines stretch out the door, and Kreuz Market, another legendary name in Central Texas barbecue. But the region’s flavor runs deeper. Just down the road in Seguin, the Burnt Bean Co. was crowned Texas Monthly’s #1 barbecue restaurant in 2025. Add in Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ and Lockhart’s lineup of smokehouses, and it’s clear: the competition will be fierce, and the flavors unforgettable.


With LinkFest, Luling claims its rightful place as the epicenter of Texas sausage culture.



Honoring a Hometown Hero



But LinkFest is about more than food—it’s about freedom, faith, and legacy.


In 1917, Private Joseph Ulyses Lamkin left Luling to serve with the Harlem Hellfighters, the first African American regiment to fight in World War I. Despite enduring segregation and discrimination at home, Lamkin and his comrades fought with unmatched valor overseas, earning respect from allies and striking fear into their enemies.



In 2025, the Harlem Hellfighters were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of America’s highest honors. Now, a century later, Lamkin’s hometown will celebrate not only its barbecue pride but also his sacrifice and the Harlem Hellfighters’ lasting place in history.


By linking the story of sausage with the story of sacrifice, LinkFest reminds us that heritage is more than what we eat—it’s the freedom that allows us to gather at the table.






Bringing the Smoke & Sacrifice



Debuting in Summer 2026, Luling LinkFest will feature:


  • A smoked link sausage competition to crown Texas’s best
  • A festival through historic downtown Luling
  • Live music showcasing Texas culture
  • Historical exhibits honoring Private Lamkin and the Harlem Hellfighters
  • Food, family, and fellowship under the summer sun




This fusion of flavor and freedom will unite veterans, pitmasters, families, and food lovers for what promises to become one of Texas’s most meaningful—and tastiest—traditions.





Luling LinkFest: Luling, Links, and the Lamkin Legacy



Bringing the Smoke & Sacrifice


For more information, contact Councilwoman Jackie Dorn Campbell at Luling City Hall.





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