Local

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.

The Jiggy with the Piggy festival has returned, bringing the smells and tastes of BBQ to downtown Kannapolis. More than 50 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.


Admission to the festival is free. The tasting contest costs $10 and rides cost $2 each or $10 for a wristband.

For more information, go to jiggywiththepiggy.com.

The schedule is listed below:

Thursday

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

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

7 p.m. — Kannapolis Cannon Ballers game (Star Wars Night, post-game fireworks).

Friday

5 p.m. — Festival opens at North Carolina Research Campus Horseshoe.

5:30 p.m. — Kannapolis Cannon Ballers game.

7 p.m. — Travis Denning concert.

Saturday

7-10:30 a.m. — Y Service Club Pancake Breakfast at YMCA Kannapolis.

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

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

7 p.m. — Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Baseball game (post-game fireworks).

Sunday

1 p.m. — Kannapolis Cannon Ballers game.

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