Pickles, Pigs & Swigs, presented by Smithfield Foods, returns to downtown Mount Olive

Pig Cook-Off, 6 pm Friday

2025 Applications are open!

Only 20 teams will have the chance to compete in this Whole Hog Barbecue Series event, which gets underway Friday, November 7, 2025 at 6 pm.

Judging Saturday morning, November 8, 2025 will be based on Product Quality, with awards going to the top three teams:

1st Place $1,200
2nd Place $600
3rd Place $300

Rules
Register Online

Festival and BBQ Sale, 11 am - 4 pm Saturday

Thanks to our amazing cooks and volunteers, Pickles, Pigs & Swigs will offer pork barbecue sandwiches and barbecue by the pound for purchase on Saturday, November 8 from 11 am to 4 pm

Barbecue sandwiches will come with cole slaw on the side. All sandwich and by-the-pound sales will be on-site, no advance ticket sales $7 for 1 sandwich, $12 for 2, and $20 per pound

Come enjoy our hometown favorites: pickles, craft beer, Eastern North Carolina BBQ, and live local music.

Proceeds benefit the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corporation in its efforts to improve Downtown Mount Olive

Purchase BBQ sandwiches and BBQ by the pound at:
The Chop Tent behind Southern Bank, facing 100 East Main Street (pedestrians only)
Open 11 am until
No Drive-Through will be offered this year

Rest, Relax and Enjoy
R&R Brewing will serve up craft beers on draft and in cans all day from 11 am to 4 pm. in the Beer Garden, conveniently located in the vicinity of the stage. IDs will be required for purchase.

Schedule

Friday

Join us at R&R Brewing at 6:30 pm for introductions of the cook teams. Afterwards, make it an evening among three downtown establishments: R&R Brewing, Ribeyes Steakhouse, and Up North Pizzeria. All will be open and serving up food and spirits. Before you leave downtown, take a walk through the cook-off area as teams fire up their grills in the parking lot of the Arlene G. Talton Municipal Center, 114 E. James Street. The teams receive their pigs at 8 pm.

Saturday

The live music lineup:

11 am - Introduction of Cook Teams and Announcement of Winners

*Winners of the Cook-Off will be announced between 11 am and 1 pm, depending on how quickly judging is concluded.*

Bring your own chairs and stay for the afternoon!

Activities
-- Mt. Olive Pickle Company: free whole Kosher Dills all day!
-- Food Trucks
-- Pickle Train Ride $3