Hub City Hog Fest attendees can sample competition entries Friday 6-8 p.m. (chicken wings) as well as Saturday from Noon to 2 p.m. (BBQ). Food trucks will be on site selling plates of BBQ for the duration of the festival for attendees to enjoy, along with live music. Photos courtesy of Cal Wicker.
The smell of slow-cooked barbecue and the sound of live music will once again fill downtown as the Hub City Hog Fest returns April 10–11, bringing one of Spartanburg’s most anticipated spring events back to Morgan Square.
The two-day festival, held in the heart of downtown Spartanburg, is a community celebration and competitive barbecue cook-off benefiting Mobile Meals of Spartanburg. Since its founding, the event has donated more than $550,000 to the nonprofit, which provides meals and support to homebound residents.
“This year we have a larger footprint with a portion of the festival heading up East Main Street,” said event coordinator Cal Wicker. “This allows for more food trucks and arts and crafts vendors. And as always, we have a stacked BBQ competition and awesome local live music.”
Festival hours run from noon to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with $5 wristbands required afterward. Saturday admission is $5 all day, while children 10 and under are admitted free. Food and drinks are purchased using “Hog Bucks,” the festival’s designated currency.
At the center of Hog Fest is a sanctioned barbecue competition featuring dozens of cook teams competing for top honors and a share of $10,000 in prize money. Attendees can sample competition entries during designated windows.
“The sample windows for BBQ competitors are Friday 6–8 p.m. (chicken wings) and Saturday noon to 2 p.m. (BBQ),” Wicker said. “However, we will have food trucks selling plates of BBQ the entire time along with great live music.”
The festival’s music lineup will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with performances beginning Friday afternoon and continuing into the evening. Headliners include the Craig Sorrells Project on Friday night and The Grateful Brothers on Saturday, along with a full slate of local bands performing across both days.
Beyond barbecue and music, attendees can explore an expanded lineup of food trucks, an arts and crafts area, a kids zone and beverage offerings throughout the festival.
“Come check out the BBQ competitors and stick around for the food trucks, music, arts and crafts area, and kids zone,” Wicker said. “Also, Budweiser of Spartanburg will be onsite all weekend.”
The event continues to serve as a major fundraiser and awareness effort for Mobile Meals, with opportunities for attendees to connect directly with the organization during the festival.
“Since inception, Hog Fest has donated just over $550,000 to Mobile Meals and has spread awareness of the charity to thousands of attendees through the years,” Wicker said. “Mobile Meals will have a booth set up in Morgan Square so please stop by and say hello to learn more about the awesome work they do.”
Behind the scenes, the event is powered entirely by volunteers and community support.
“Hog Fest is 100% volunteer run with a 12-person board who logs countless hours throughout the year to pull it off,” Wicker said. “Also, weekend of, we have an additional 200 volunteers who lend a hand. It takes the whole community, including 90 sponsors, to have Hog Fest each year. Thank you, Spartanburg.”
Those interested in volunteering, competing or learning more can visit www.hubcityhogfest.com for details.
With its combination of award-winning barbecue, live music and strong community impact, Hub City Hog Fest continues to be a signature Spartanburg event- one that brings people together while supporting a meaningful cause.
