Kannapolis gets festive during Jiggy with the Piggy events

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Barbecue fans behold: Kannapolis is hosting one of the largest sanctioned cooking competitions in the country this weekend.

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The Jiggy with the Piggy festival has returned, bringing the smells and tastes of BBQ to downtown Kannapolis. More than 70 teams from across the United States are competing for top bragging rights and prize money in events approved by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.

The festival, which has been recognized as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, will have more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, live music, the Jiggy 5K walk/run, fireworks, a People’s Choice pork tasting competition and a kids’ zone.

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Admission is free. For more information, go to jiggywiththepiggy.com.

The schedule is listed below:

Wednesday

6:30 p.m. — Jiggy with the Piggy 5K, part of the Run Kannapolis series. Dress in a piggy-related costume to win prizes.

Thursday

4-7 p.m. — Kannapolis Farmers Market opens for the season at the corner of Dale Earnhardt Boulevard and Vance Avenue.

6 p.m. — “Thursdays on Main” free concert at Veterans Park.

Saturday

9 a.m. — Festival opens at North Carolina Research Campus Horseshoe.

12-2 p.m. — People’s Choice Pork Tasting (while supplies last).

5 p.m. — Festival closes.

Sunday

1-3 p.m. — “Sunday Music Series” free concert at Veterans Park.

The Sammy Kershaw concert scheduled for Friday night has been postponed to July 15 due to the forecast for severe weather.

(WATCH BELOW: See what’s cooking at Sweet Lew’s BBQ)

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