The Kingstree Pig Pickin' Festival fills downtown Kingstree with barbecue, live music, food trucks, vendors, a parade, classic cars, and activities for kids over two days in October.
Barbecue is more than just festival food here. Cook teams set up downtown for the Chris Osborne BBQ Cook-Off, with whole hogs at the center of the competition and separate chicken and rib contests on Saturday.
Friday Night in Downtown Kingstree
Friday's festival runs from 4 to 11 p.m., with food trucks, vendors, and live music as the barbecue teams get settled in for the cook-off.
The Corey Stevenson Band takes the main stage at 7 p.m. and is scheduled to play until 10.
The cook-off also includes an Anything Goes category, giving teams a chance to compete with something beyond the traditional barbecue categories.
Saturday: BBQ, Parade, and Car Show
Saturday gets going at 9 a.m. with a car show hosted by the Blinking Buzzards Car Club. The annual Pig Pickin' parade follows at 10 a.m., with food trucks, vendors, performances, and other activities continuing through the afternoon.
Kids' activities begin at 11 a.m. behind Welch Park.
The barbecue teams face judging Saturday morning. The main BBQ Cook-Off centers on whole hog, with separate chicken and rib contests also available to participating teams.
Cook-off winners are announced on the main stage at 1 p.m.. The Level 10 Band performs immediately afterward, and the festival continues until 5 p.m..
Whole-Hog Barbecue in Kingstree
The whole-hog competition fits naturally in Williamsburg County, where cooking pigs over wood coals has long been part of the local barbecue tradition.
The cook teams prepare their hogs on site before Saturday morning's judging. Chicken and ribs are judged later in the morning, with all of the cook-off awards presented together at 1 p.m.
Food trucks and other food vendors will also be downtown throughout the festival. Current 2026 information does not spell out a public barbecue tasting or People's Choice system, so don't assume the competition entries will be sold as samples unless the Town announces additional details.
More Than the BBQ
The Pig Pickin' is a downtown festival as much as a cook-off. Along with the barbecue, the weekend includes local vendors, food trucks, live music, a car show, the Saturday parade, dance performances, and children's activities.
Additional live music is planned downtown on Saturday, with more performance details expected as the festival gets closer.
What to Know Before You Go
- Friday: 4–11 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Friday music: Corey Stevenson Band at 7 p.m.
- Saturday car show: 9 a.m.
- Saturday parade: 10 a.m.
- Kids' activities: Begin at 11 a.m.
- BBQ awards: 1 p.m.
- Saturday music: Level 10 Band follows the awards ceremony
- Location: Downtown Kingstree, SC 29556
- Admission: Free
Event Organizer
Organizer
- Name
- Amy Pringle
- Phone
- 843-372-5383
