It’s very early on the first Saturday morning in May and the breeze from downtown Kinston carries the aroma of pork slowly cooking on enormous grills. More than 90 cook teams from across North Carolina gather each year to roast whole hogs through the night in preparation for judging. The sweet aroma that fills every block of downtown Kinston is the result of these cooks perfecting their sauces and making sure their pigs are tender and flavorful.

THE 2024 BBQ FEST ON THE NEUSE WILL FEATURE:

• Nashville Recording Artist Joe Nichols
• Music performances by Jake Sutton, The British Invaders, and No Quarter No Brass Band
• 150+ vendors including food trucks, arts & crafts, home & garden, jewelry, farmers market & festival merch
• Carolina Classic Car & Truck Show and Coastal Plains Bike Show
• Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden featuring Kinston’s own Mother Earth Brewing [...]