The annual Pig in the Park Barbecue Festival and Cookoff will return to Williamston’s Mineral Spring Park May 15 and 16. Friday hours will be 12 – 9 pm. Saturday hours will be 10:30 am to 3 pm.
The event features a weekend of championship cooking along with barbecue, food sales, vendor market and other activities.
There will be live music beginning at 5 pm Friday with Greenville based band Rhythm Jab.
Cook teams will compete for the Championship with judging on Saturday.
The Williamston Masonic Lodge will be selling whole, already cooked and pulled Boston Butts.
Event organizers are now accepting applications for Championship competitors, food vendors and market vendors.
There will be cash prizes for first, second and third place. Applications to compete in the event are limited to the first 24 barbecue teams who apply, are accepted, and have paid their entry fee. Barbeque cooking teams are limited to four members.
Experienced, trained, and certified SCBA Judges will handle judging of the Boston Butt pork in this contest. There is a $3,000 cash purse as follows: 1st place $1,500; 2nd place $1,000; 3rd place $500. Trophies will be given to 1st thru 3rd place. First-place winner will also have free entry for the following year.
Entry fee of $250 must be received with each application form no later than April 18. After April 18th there is a $50 late fee.
No applications will be accepted after May 1. The fee includes a case of Boston Butts for cooking and judging and the rest will be passed out as samples and for tasters choice.
Organizers will sell tickets to the public for barbecue samples.
The event is sanctioned and judged by the South Carolina BBQ Association and rules and regulations for the organization will be followed. Marshals and Judges will be on site during the event. Awards will be presented at 2:30 PM.
Teams are welcome to cook and sell portions of grilled or BBQ items other than Boston Butts on the day of the competition.
Pig in the Park will also include craft and retail vendors for the festival market. Applications are now being accepted. Vendor fee is $150 by April 18, $175 after April 18: Deadline for any entry is April 30.
Entry forms and applications can be found along with other information on the South Carolina BBQ Association website at:
The event is organized by the Williamston Masonic Lodge. Event organizer is Kosta Randitsas
For information email: kranditsas@icloud.com or call 864-436-5344.
