Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

By
Kennesaw.com

The City of Kennesaw is hosting the annual Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19, 2023. The two-day festival features plenty of great barbecued meats as well as great desserts and live entertainment. Kids will enjoy the large Kid Zone, and families can enjoy the numerous vendors and exhibits.

Kennesaw's best professional and amateur BBQ competition.
Kennesaw’s best professional and amateur BBQ competition.

The Festival includes a Georgia State Championship Barbecue Cookoff, including over $10,000 in cash and prizes in an event sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. There is also a non-sanctioned Backyard BBQ event and a Anything Butt Contest and Peach Dessert Contest.

Contact Information:

Phone: (770) 422-9714

Dates and Times:

Friday, August 18, 2023 from 6 pm to 10 pm
Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 10 am to 10 pm

Free live entertainment will be offered on two stages

The festival is surrounded by rockin' music and plenty of fun for the kids!
The festival is surrounded by rockin’ music and plenty of fun for the kids!

Festival Location:
Adams Park and the Ben Robertson Community Center
2600 Park Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30144

Admission:
Free

Parking:
Free public parking is available at the following locations. All locations are in walking distance of the festival. Courtesy shuttles are accessible from all lots.

North Kennesaw Area:

The shuttle on this route has a lift to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

  • Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old 41 Hwy. – Shuttle picks up & drops off near the main plaza by the roundabout. (1.2 miles away).
  • Kennesaw Elementary School, 3155 Jiles Rd. – Shuttle picks up & drops off near the main portico (1.1 miles away).

Downtown Kennesaw Area:

  • Kennesaw First Baptist Church, 2958 North Main St. – Shuttle picks up & drops off at the front church parking lot (0.3 miles away).
  • Commemorative Park (intersection of Main street and Cherokee Street) – Shuttle picks up and drops off at parallel marked spaces (0.2 miles away).

The following locations are close to this pick up:

  • Along Lewis St., between N. Main St. and Dallas St. (0.3 miles away)
  • Lot at the intersection of N. Main St. and Moon Station Rd. (0.4 miles away)
  • Surface Parking behind Revival on Main (0.2 miles away)

Shuttle service will be available on Friday, August 18 from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM, and on Saturday, August 19 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Shuttles will depart from each location approximately every 20-25 minutes.

Handicap Parking:
Handicap parking along with handicap shuttles will be available at Swift-Cantrell Park and Kennesaw Elementary School. There is not any handicapped parking available on site.

For more information, please call (770) 422-9714.

Kennesaw Pigs and Peaches Barbeque Festival

Contact Information:
Phone: (770) 422-9714

Backyard BBQ event

Holy Smoked BBQ vendor

Plenty of food at the festival

Great fresh squeezed lemonade

Enjoy the huge kids zone

Kennesaw Pigs and Peaches Barbecue Festival

Past Grand Champions

  • 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 (770) 422-9714 or visit www.PigsAndPeaches.com.

Contact Information:
Phone: (770) 422-9714

72 COMMENTS

  1. 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!

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. We were peoples choice champs at smoke on the lake ackworth an would like to join y’all but can’t find form

  10. Hello!

    We would love to join you as a vendor at your event this year, but are having trouble locating a current vendor application. Went to pigsandpeaches.com, but no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks!

    • Hi Lynette,
      The parking area around the Ben Robertson Community Center will be used for the festival. There is usually a stage at the entrance to the center and tables, chairs, vendors, etc. in the parking lot (see pictures below).

      Parking is available at the First Baptist Church on Main Street, in front of the Teen Center, at the Depot, at City Hall, at Publix and at strip mall immediately behind Publix, as well as some downtown businesses (marked with signage).

    • 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.

  15. I went last year A!A was playing. Who is playing this year? It was a first date and we had a blast. We are still dating…

    • Hi Kelly,

      Thanks for the comment. Here is the entertainment lineup (also added to the main article above):
      On Friday, Toulouse Street (Doobie Brothers tribute band) will headline the main stage at 7:30pm.
      On Saturday, the entertainment lineup on the kids stage includes puppet shows, youth dance performances, and cooking demonstrations. Saturday’s main stage lineup includes blues and jazz acts (including Tommy Keys and Martha Ann Brooks) as well as The Stranger (Billy Joel tribute) headlining at 7pm.

    • 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.

  19. Are dogs allowed? I have a 6 lb Chihuahua that usually rides in her tote bag everywhere I go but I didn’t want to drive up from Douglasville with her and then not be able to get in with her. Too hot to leave her in the car.

    • Hi Denise,

      We would suggest calling the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation Department at (770) 422-9714. We have seen dogs there in the past, but are not sure if there is a specific pet policy during the festival.

      In years past, the main festival area has been in the parking lot around the community center. There were also some activities that took place on the athletic fields around the center (beer garden, sports zone, helicopter ride, etc.) and no pets are allowed on the fields (see above picture).

  20. 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.

    • Hi Lindsay,

      Congratulations on the new baby and very understandable not wanting to be out too long with a 3 month old. We called the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation department but were unable to get that information. They said that information might be posted on the pigsandpeaches.com website a bit closer to the event day though. If we find out any new information, we will be sure to post it.

    • Hi Lindsay,

      We just found out that the Silver Wings Command Exhibition Parachute Demonstration Team from Fort Benning will jump into the Festival on Saturday, August 27 at 1pm.

  21. Been living in Kennesaw for over six years, but this will be my family’s first time to the festival. Can’t wait. My daughter is excited to go, though she was disappointed to find out that she won’t see any pigs…live ones anyhow. (Or will she?).

    Thanks,
    Patrick

    • Hi Patrick,

      Thanks for the comment and glad you are going to the festival this year. We don’t recall seeing any live pigs in years past, however your daughter might have just as much fun spotting the amazingly creative banners with pigs on them – created by the bbq teams (see pictures above for examples).

  23. 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.

  24. Any idea yet when the paratroopers will be jumping? I still can’t find out any info. about that.. Thanks!
    Lisa

    • Hi Lisa,

      We just found out that the Silver Wings Command Exhibition Parachute Demonstration Team from Fort Benning will jump into the Festival on Saturday, August 27 at 1pm.

  25. 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. 😉 Prices are typically in the $1-$5 range, depending on the food item. There are also some tents in the backyard bbq contest and pro contest that do not sell food and are only there for the competition. These tents are generally away from the main area and are labeled with a “no vending” sign.

  26. 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.

  28. 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.

    • 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.

    • 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 “a variety of interactive games and other child-friendly activities.” (source:pigsandpeaches.com)

  33. 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?

  34. 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 includes a bbq competition, and many of the groups sitting around their RVs are actually just amateur bbq teams who are not legally allowed to sell the food they are cooking. They are cooking in order to enter their food into the competition, and they likely just share 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.

  35. 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!?

  36. 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

  40. 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

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