Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship

Each Fall, the best whole hog barbecue chefs in North Carolina square off to become our state champion. The Whole Hog Barbecue Championship is the culmination of a qualifying series that includes more than 25 N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned local barbecue competitions.

The State Championship will return to Downtown Raleigh as part of the International Blue Grass Festival.

Festival goers will have the opportunity to purchase a wristband to sample directly from each cook and help select a people’s choice winner.

The Whole Hog Barbecue Championship is the culmination of a series of barbecue cook-offs held throughout the state using North Carolina Pork Council-sanctioned rules. The winner of each local cook-off is invited to the state championship to compete for coveted trophies and cash prizes, not to mention bragging rights. In addition to the on-site culinary trophy for best whole hog barbecue, there are also trophies for best sauce, crispy skin and a blind-taste judging.

Proceeds from the wristband sales will be donated to the InterFaith Food Shuttle and the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to bluegrass professionals experiencing financial emergencies.

Ticket information coming soon.