Kennesaw’s Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival is back, and it’s smokier and sweeter than ever. The City of Kennesaw is hosting the annual event which is moving to October for 2026 and beyond. The two-day festival features plenty of great food and barbecue as well as great desserts, cold drinks, and live entertainment. Kids will enjoy the large Kid Zone, and families can enjoy the numerous vendors and exhibits.
Pigs & Peaches BBQ Competition Tasting Experience
The 2026 Pigs & Peaches Festival is turning up the heat again with a BBQ competition tasting experience. Returning for the second time, ticket holders will have access to a curated selection of tasting portions from multiple stations, each hosted by competing local restaurants, BBQ teams, enthusiasts, and vendors. Held in the Smoke Ring Zone at the Depot Park parking lot, it’s a great opportunity for BBQ fans to taste a wide range of flavors in one convenient location.
Competition categories:
🍖 BBQ Dish
🍑 Anything Peach
🍗 Sweet Baby Ray’s Wings
Cash prizes will be given to the top 3 teams and the People’s Choice Award will be selected by the tasting experience ticket holders.
Questions? Contact Becca Graham, Director of Communication & Engagement for the city of Kennesaw (rgraham@kennesaw-ga.gov) for more information about the tasting event.
Kennesaw’s Got Country
As the sun sets and the BBQ smoke clears, the festival’s main stage comes alive with music. New this year, the festival will open Friday evening with Kennesaw’s Got Country, a talent competition featuring local and regional country musicians. Solo performers, duos, and full bands will perform original songs or covers, with acoustic and amplified sets, offering musicians a chance to perform during one of Kennesaw’s largest annual events. The winner will receive cash awards and prizes, along with the opening spot for a major country artist at next year’s festival.
Live Music
Saturday night features Tigirlily Gold at 6 pm. Tigirlily Gold is an American country music sister duo consisting of Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh. They are known for their vocal harmonies, energetic live shows, and hits like “Shoot Tequila” and “I Tried a Ring On”. They also won New Duo or Group of the Year at the 59th Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in 2024. Headlining at 8 pm on Saturday is Chayce Beckham, a singer-songwriter who rose to fame after winning the nineteenth season of the singing reality show American Idol.
Dates and Times:
Friday, October 16, 2026 from 6 pm to 10 pm
Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10 am to 10 pm
Tasting Experience is on Saturday, October 17, 2026 from noon to 3 pm
Festival Location:
Main Street, Depot Park, & the United Bankshares Amphitheater
Downtown Kennesaw
2828 Cherokee Street
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Admission:
Free
$35 for Tasting Experience Tickets
Applications:
Apply to perform at the Pigs & Peaches Music Contest
Apply to cook in the BBQ Tasting Experience competition
Parking:
Parking will be available in areas surrounding Downtown Kennesaw.
For more information, please call Becca Graham, Director of Communication & Engagement for the city of Kennesaw at (770) 424-8274 or email rgraham@kennesaw-ga.gov.
Past BBQ Contest Winners
- 2025 – Big Shanty Smokehouse
- 2024 – Bad Rooster BBQ
- 2023 – One Eyed Pig BBQ
- 2022 – Yes, Dear BBQ
- 2021 – Angry Jack BBQ
- 2020 – Canceled due to Covid-19
- 2019 – Quenit BBQ
- 2018 – Swine Dining
- 2017 – The Bald Hawg BBQ
- 2016 – Moyers Competition Bar-B-Q
- 2015 – Swine & Shine BBQ
- 2014 – Moyers Competition Bar-B-Q
- 2013 – Southern Thunder BBQ
- 2012 – Que’n Stew’n & Brew’n
- 2011 – Blue Sky BBQ
- 2010 – The Right Stuff BBQ
- 2009 – Chatham Artillery BBQ
- 2008 – Bill & The Dixie Chicks BBQ
- 2007 – Jack’s Old South BBQ
For more information, please call Becca Graham, Director of Communication & Engagement for the city of Kennesaw at (770) 424-8274.
Isn’t the festival Aug 15-16, 2025?
That reply was to a comment made about a previous event. For 2025, yes the festival is August 15-16, 2025.
I loved being a vendor in 2021 and look forward to coming back with my amazing butters, shower steamers and self care gift boxes.
Bless Somebody Soaps and Candles
Does anyone know the name of the vendor that sold the ball shaped lighted thing that syncs with music?
Who makes the kettle corn at pigs and peaches? Can you buy it online or just at the festival?
IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS TONIGHT ?
I am looking for a certain vendor that sold the most amazing strawberry lemonade I have ever had and I can’t remember their name. All I know is that they sold it in a small jug like plastic container and it had fresh strawberries and a lemon in it. I believe it was sold for $5. If you know their name could you please email their name so I can find them
The last time I was at the festival, there was a booth with cake-pops, I took a business card but I lost it and in would like to use this business for my wedding. Is there a vendor list I can look at to find them!?
This year’s pigs and peaches festival was a waste of my time. I thought that this would be a great putting for the family, especialy my son and his best friend who both love bbq. I think the setup was wonderful & whoever took the time to plan this event did a great job, but my biggest gripe would be with the vendors. Most of the vendors probably had great products, but they mostly kept it to themselves. As I walked around a lot of the vendors were feeding their personal guests seated around their RVs, sitting around and enjoying the atmosphere. My wife thought that maybe they were on break. I must say that there was one vendor who was busy from the time I got to the event from the time I had arrived until the time I left. Zeigler’s BBQ had some great food. They were very busy and still found a way to be hospitable to their customers. One other gripe I have is if this was suppose to be a “pigs & peaches” festival, nobody had peach pies or cobblers. This was very disappointing for me. I walked the entire park and did not find but one vendor selling peaches, no peach pies though. Somewhat disappointing.
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for the comment. Part of the festival formerly included a bbq competition, and many of the groups sitting around their RVs were actually just amateur bbq teams who are not legally allowed to sell the food they are cooking. They were cooking in order to enter their food into the competition, and they likely just shared the rest with their friends and family. Many local BBQ restaurants were there though selling to the public, including BBQ Street where we had some great peach cobbler, Zeiglers where we had great pork and ribs, Big Shanty Smokehouse, Williamson Bros, JD’s, and several others. We also sampled some great peach pies from Mercier Orchards booth to the right of the main stage and some peach ice cream from Front Porch Ice Cream.
Hi, I am a North Cobb High School student, and I signed up yesterday to volunteer for the festival. However, I have yet to receive any information on what I will be doing and who to contact. Any suggestions on what to do?
Hi Sabrina,
Perhaps you could call the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation Department at (770) 422-9714 for more information.
Is the kid zone free?
Hi Andrew,
The kids zone features a mix of both paid and free activities. Paid activities include rides, slides, jumpers, etc. and free activities include entertainment on the family stage and other child-friendly activities.
can we bring a cooler and lawn chairs? I have a bad back.
Hi Melissa and Michelle,
It might be a good idea to check with the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation Department to see what their policy is regarding coolers and chairs. You can reach them at (770) 422-9714.
do they allow coolers ?
Just a question. I thought the fest went for Friday, Saturday, Sunday? Am I mistaken? If so then why does it NOT cover the entire weekend?
Hi Goosenco,
The Pigs & Peaches BBQ Fest is a two day festival on Friday and Saturday only. Not sure why they don’t include Sunday. If you would like to forward your suggestion to the event organizers, you can reach them at (770) 422-9714.
Im looking for the soft serve ice cream vendor!! I had their card and lost it !anyone know their name??
Hi Cassie,
Have you tried calling the event organizers? You can reach them at (770) 422-9714 – hopefully they can help.
TOTALLY DISAPPOINTING !!!!!!!
This is the second time I have been to the festival and was completely disappointed.
The festival is great if you want to try your hand at a BBQ competition, but for the general public it was awful.
Very few vendors were giving samples whether free or for a small price.
I expected to try a number of different places and then become a customer of their establishment.
Instead, your offered a full plate of BBQ for 5$ or so. So, I ended up eating at one place where I ate an entire plate and was done eating. If I wanted to go eat a plate of BBQ, I can go to a local restaurant.
My suggestion to all the vendors:
If you want to build your business, you offer a small taste or sample of your food to the thousands of people who may become potential customers. I’m not saying it has to be free either. Give a small sample for free (similar to how the mall gets you to try a small piece to win a customer) or even if I can get 1 rib for 1$, this way I can try 5 places for 5$.
Either way, instead, I tried 1 place (which was very good) and looked at 100 BBQ signs wondering how their food was.
Oh….Pigs & Peaches – I don’t recall seeing anyone selling Peach Cobbler or Peach pie, etc.
The Taste of Kennesaw is a sampling/ tasting of food event.That may the type of event you are referring too.
As far as the Pigs and Peaches BBQ festival, it includes a BBQ competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society which is the largest in ,the State of Georgia. It was also chosen by KCBS as one of the top 25 BBQ festivals in the country.
There is music, food, a Kid zone, all day entertainment, two evening concerts, and even a fireworks display to end the festival Saturday evening.
Is each tent priced individually, or is there an option to get an “all you can eat” ticket? How much does the food generally cost?
Hi Sam,
Prices for food and drinks are determined by each vendor. Unfortunately there is no “all you can eat” ticket, but perhaps you should suggest that to the event organizers. 😉
Any reason this can’t be held in October when it is COOLER? Love going, but, the heat makes me cut short the visit every year.
Hi Chris,
If you want cooler temperatures, the best time to go is Saturday when it opens at 10am. The temperature is likely to be in the low 70’s at that time.
Wow Chris, good call. Though it is now 15 years later, you are getting your wish. Starting in 2026, the event has been moved to October.
Look forward to the event! Will they be selling event t-shirts?
I read online that they produced a festival shirt, but I am not sure if it is for sale or if it is for the vendors. My guess is that they will be for sale.
Hi Keith,
Shirts and other items may be purchased at the Cintas Booth (#406). Cintas is the tshirt sponsor for 2011.
Any ideas on when the paratroopers will jump on Saturday? I would love to bring the kids to see them but with a new baby (3 month old) I can’t stay out in the heat for too long.
New to the area and DEFINITELY coming on Friday night! Looks like something my family will enjoy 🙂
Hi Tara,
Welcome to Kennesaw and glad to hear you and your family will be there. It is a fun event – you might even decide to come back the next day.
I’ve never attended this festival before. Can someone sugguest how much money to bring? Thanks.
Hi Rachel,
You can enjoy the atmosphere and live entertainment for free, however you will probably want to buy some of the delicious food and drinks available for sale. It is probably a good idea to bring more than you think you will need, but they offer ATM machines if you need more.
Is beer for sale at the festival?
Hi Jim,
Yes, beer is available for sale.
Hi Tonya,
We have not seen any information about it, but you can try calling the event organizers at (770) 422-9714 or visit the event website, online at PigsAndPeaches.com.
Hi I was wondering if there will be fresh peaches for sale?
Hi Susan,
Not sure if fresh peaches will be available, but there will be great foods and desserts made with peaches.
Hi Karin,
Applications are available online at:
https://www.facebook.com/PigsAndPeaches?sk=app_4949752878
Any craft vendor spots still left?
Thanks!
Hi Karin,
For vendor information, please call (770) 422-9714.
We were peoples choice champs at smoke on the lake ackworth an would like to join y’all but can’t find form
We serve the Real Deal, just like in New Orlens. We cook our own syrups and serve generous portions. More than all the popular flavors. We would love to be a part of your event.
I really enjoyed the festival. Great vendors and bbq. But where was the “Peach”? I did not see one peach desert in the place.
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for your comment. You are correct in that the bbq is definitely featured more prominently than the peaches, but there were several great peach options available. Some vendors had peach cobbler available, and Mercier Orchards was there with ice cold peach cider. By the way, if you have not been to Mercier Orchards in North Georgia, you should definitely add a Mercier visit to your “to do” list.
It’s very wet and rainy today. Will you guys still be out there?
We just got back from the event and it is definitely still on. It was sunny when we left, but you might want to bring an umbrella just in case.
I’m there!
Serving booze?
Hi Wally,
Yes, there are two “Beer Gardens” at the event.
I have never been; However my husband and i will be attending on Saturday and we are looking forward to the BBQ. we have heard wonderful things about this event.
Hi Amy,
Glad to hear that you plan to attend. This is a great event and one that should not be missed.
I went to the festival last year and it was wonderful, I would like to participate this year. I am trying to find the link to fill out the application for vendors can you assist me thank you.
Hi Lynette,
Applications are available online at:
https://www.facebook.com/PigsAndPeaches?sk=app_4949752878
I took my 3yr old Grandson last year and the Kid Zone was GREAT! Lookin forward to the “Pigs” & KettleCorn! We are so excited for this year!
Thanks to the Peaches & Pigs!
Hi Wanda and thanks for the comment. We hope you have a great time again this year and we hope to hear from you again soon.