The Historic Pirtle Bar-B-Q had it's roots in the early days of Pirtle Methodist Church. In a church made up of farmers and ranchers it was a natural thing to happen. When the church was established in 1847, it was the center of social activity, as well as spiritual guidance. Even in those days, the Methodists were known for their great love of fellowship meals.

The Bar-B-Q served many purposes:

1. It was a great social event and time of church fellowship.
2. It was an effective way of attracting new people to the church and the community.
3. It was a pretty good method of raising additional funds to meet church financial responsibilities, like paying the preacher.

In the 20th century, the event continued as a community centerpiece. For many years, it was a part of the annual event that celebrated the saints who had served the church in the past. At other times, it was needed to help the church continue its ministry on both a local and global basis. But near the close of that century, the congregation became too small and too aged to provide the many needed workers to carry on the tradition. The Bar-B-Q was lost to history.

In 2004, new life was breathed into the historic social event. It came back with a new energy and new vigor. The next generation of Methodists became enthusiastic about the Bar-B-Q, and the event has risen from it's hickory ashes. Each year has seen new growth, new attractions, new ideas and new life. In 2007, the addition of Bluegrass Music has propelled the annual event into a major function. The Historic Pirtle Bar-B-Q is now the social activity of the year for much of East Texas.