(From news reports) – Festival fans and music lovers will converge in Kennesaw for two days of barbecue bliss at the City of Kennesaw’s Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival on Friday, August 26, 6 – 10 pm and Saturday, August 27, 10 am – 10 pm at Adams Park.
The event will be held rain or shine. Admission is free.
At the heart of the festival is a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned competition, recognized as a Georgia State Championship event, in addition to Backyard BBQ, Anything Butt and Peach Dessert contests. New for 2016 is a Kids’ Que cook-off for budding young pitmasters. Over $16,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to contest winners.
Up-and-coming artists and established talent will perform on two music stages while patrons shop, eat, drink and interact with over 200 vendors and exhibitors. The festival also features a Kid Zone — a family-friendly playground of free and pay-to-play inflatable jumpers, amusements, and attractions.
Headliners include Eliminator – the ORIGINAL ZZ Top Tribute Band; Blair Crimmins and The Hookers rocking the stage with Dixieland horns, rowdy ragtime piano, and gypsy jazz guitar; Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, a Georgia-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter who is a legend of the Atlanta roots music scene; and the Thomas Fountain Band playing real, raw, rootsy country music.
Supporting acts include Kara Claudy, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson, Caleb Warren and the Perfect Gentlemen, Jeff Hilyer, Gibson Wilbanks, Rick Snyder, The Coteries, Highbeams, Peachy Pyron, and Chicago Joe Jones.
Other attractions at this year’s festival include helicopter rides, a side-by-side zip-line, and a family stage showcasing regional dance and performance groups. Saturday’s activities will be capped off with a spectacular fireworks finale at 9:30 pm.
While public tasting is not offered as part of the BBQ competition, there will be dozens of vendors (including several cook teams) who will be selling barbeque and other food and beverages, including beer. Prices will vary among vendors.
For the safety and comfort of festivalgoers, owners are discouraged from bringing their four-legged family members. Many dogs do not respond well to large crowds, loud noises and the heat.
Public parking is available at several locations in downtown Kennesaw. Limited handicap parking is available at Adams Park, 2753 Watts Drive. Courtesy shuttles will provide round-trip service to the festival from Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old Highway 41 and Kennesaw Elementary School, 3155 Jiles Road.
For more information, visit pigsandpeaches.com or call Kennesaw Parks & Recreation at 770-422-9714.
