Find the best of barbecue in Downtown Ayden at the Kings of Q Double Cookoff May 17th & 18th! This year’s competition will feature the festival’s first-ever double cookoff and the first Hometown Whole Hog Throwdown!
The BBQ competition runs from May 17th through 18th, with the public festivities happening on Saturday, May 18th. If you want to participate in the entire weekend, and think you have what it takes to enter the Kings of Q competition click here!
Sample barbecue styles from all over North Carolina (and beyond) in both the Whole Hog Competition and the Kansas City Barbeque Sanctioned Competition. While the pitmasters prepare, visitors can take self-guided tours of the pits to see the pro’s in action, or can wait to buy a plate (or more!) later in the day. Between the eating and awards ceremonies, explore the artisan village, beer gardens, or simply experience beautiful Downtown Ayden!
Make sure to stick around and finish off the night at the Saturday Night Street Dance from 7pm - 10pm! Find community dancing, live music by Chairman of the Board, and of course, more barbecue, all at the West Avenue Stage in Downtown Ayden!
Schedule of Events:
9am - 5pm - Artisan Village Open
9am - 11am - Self guided tours KCBS BBQ Village and Whole Hog Competition
10am - Whole Hog Competition Awards
11am - 1pm - BBQ Plates and Bulk BBQ Available
11am - 10pm - Beer Garden: Cindirene’s, 559 3rd St.
11am - 10pm- Beer Garden: Doghouse Tavern, 506 2nd St.
5pm- “Kings of Q” Award Ceremony
7pm - 10pm - Saturday Night Street Dance
The “Kings of Q” BBQ Festival is named in honor of the late local legends Latham “Bum” Davis and Pete Jones. Both families are still involved in the Pitt County BBQ scene, with the original Bums Restaurant and Skylight Inn in Ayden, and Pete Jones’ grandson, Sam, opened Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville in 2015.
Click here if you want to learn more about the history behind “Kings of Q”.
