Competition Barbecue by Lake Marion
The Cookin' & Campin' BBQ Cook-Off brings South Carolina barbecue teams to Palmetto Shores RV Resort in Summerton for a pork competition along the Lake Marion waterfront.
The Saturday cook-off is sanctioned and judged by the South Carolina Barbeque Association and counts toward the SCBA state championship standings. Cook teams spend the night preparing their pork before serving both the judges and the public on Saturday.
Taste the Competition Barbecue
The public portion of the event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with teams ready to begin serving at 11.
Palmetto Shores supplies the pork butts used in the competition, so the barbecue being served comes directly from the same cook teams competing before SCBA judges.
Food is exchanged for event tickets. Current 2026 information does not yet list the public ticket prices, so check with Palmetto Shores before you go if you want to know exactly what tasting will cost.
An SCBA-Sanctioned Cook-Off
Teams compete for cash prizes and trophies, with $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third. The event also awards a People's Choice winner, who earns free entry into the following year's cook-off.
Competition turn-in takes place before the public tasting begins, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Cookin' and Campin'
The setting is part of what makes this cook-off a little different. Palmetto Shores is an RV resort on Lake Marion, and competing teams can make a weekend of it rather than simply pulling into a festival lot for the day.
Cook teams begin arriving Friday, with their competition entry including a campsite with water, power, and sewer. By Saturday morning, the pork has been cooking overnight and the public gets to sample the results.
The resort is at 5215 Dingle Pond Road, Summerton, SC 29148, a short drive from I-95.
What to Know Before You Go
- Time: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: Palmetto Shores RV Resort, 5215 Dingle Pond Road, Summerton, SC 29148
- Barbecue: SCBA-sanctioned pork butt competition
- Public serving: Begins at 11 a.m.
- Awards: 2 p.m.
- Tasting: Event tickets are exchanged for barbecue; current public ticket prices have not yet been posted
Event Organizer
Organizer
- Name
- Amanda McGovern
- Phone
- 321-261-5154
