north carolina Kinston

BBQ FEST ON THE NEUSE

It’s early on the first Saturday morning in May, and the breeze from downtown Kinston carries smoke and a sweet hint of the mouthwatering sizzle of pork that has cooked low and slow over enormous grills all night. Welcome to the BBQ Fest on the Neuse — “the largest whole hog cookoff in the world.”

More than 90 cook teams from across the United States gather each year on the banks of the Neuse River in Kinston to roast whole hogs through the night in preparation for judging the next morning. The sweet aroma that fills downtown Kinston is the result of these cooks perfecting their golden brown crisp skin and tender, flavorful pigs — splayed on giant grates of custom cookers. Winners of the tastiest hog go home with bragging rights, cash awards, and a custom-made chopping board.

For more than 40 years, this popular festival has kicked off the springsummer season Down East with two days of cooking, live music and events, a car show, and shopping from vendors of all kinds including pottery, T-shirts, toys and more.

THE 2023 BBQ FEST ON THE NEUSE WILL FEATURE:

• Country music artist Easton Corbin

• 150+ vendors including food trucks, arts & crafts, home & garden, Got to Be NC, jewelry, farmers market & festival merch

• Carolina Classic Car & Truck Show and Coastal Plains Bike Show

• Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden featuring Kinston’s own Mother Earth Brewing & Social House Vodka

• Super Grit Cowboy Band and opportunities to twinkle your toes with the Kinston Shag Club

• Fun for kids of all ages at Inners Shows & Amusements and The FUN Zone

And, of course,

• The “Chop Tent” where you can savor Eastern North Carolina’s BEST barbecue, cooked, chopped, and sauced on site. Come early; barbecue is available from 11 a.m. Saturday until it sells out, and they always sell out.

SEE YOU MAY 5 & 6, 2023 AT KINSTON’S BBQ FEST ON THE NEUSE!

KINSTONBBQ.COM

THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY EACH YEAR Kinston is host to the BBQ Fest on the Neuse. This is not just any barbecue festival, it’s the largest whole hog cook o in the world. More than 90 cook teams gather downtown and fill the air with a sweet hint of pork cooked low and slow. This is the event that defines “what is good barbecue.” Want a front row seat? Come judge for yourself. VisitKinston.com