Central Florida BBQ Festivals – Treats for Your Taste Buds

If you like a good BBQ blow-out, then you’ll love all the Central Florida BBQ festivals, contests and cook-outs. 

Due to year round sunshine, professional pit masters and amateurs alike cook up a storm in Florida all year, but especially between November and April.

Central Florida BBQ festivals give you the chance to pig out on Pitmaster specials. What better way to enjoy this classic American cuisine? Treat your taste buds to mouth-watering, award-winning ribs, championship brisket and piggylicious pulled pork.

Central Florida BBQ festivals don’t just stop at BBQ staples though. Fancy a little heat? Try deep-fried jalapeño’s. How about that sweet tooth craving? Deep fried Oreos and deep-fried strawberries will give you the perfect sugar rush.

You’ll find smothered nachos, loaded tater tots and smokin’ sliders amongst other tasty treats. And traditional sides like Southern-Style Collard Greens, sweet beans, green bean casserole and Mac n Cheese.

Family Friendly Central Florida BBQ Festivals

Virtually all Central Florida BBQ festivals are family friendly events and perfect for all ages. Adults will appreciate the quality of food and live entertainment. There’s usually live outdoor concerts and beer tents.

For kiddos, there’s often a bounce house and games. You’ll also often find craft and art vendors.

And did we mention mouth-watering competition level food?

Sanctioned Florida BBQ Contests

Many of the Central Florida BBQ festivals are contests that are sanctioned by Florida BBQ Association. Does being a sanctioned event make a difference to you and I? Well it does, and it doesn’t, kind of!

Health regulations mean we, the public, aren’t able to sample food created for the competition. The food is prepared, presented and judged. Then family and friends of competing teams get to gorge on the goodies.

The winners (Grand Champions) of top-level sanctioning associations, like Florida BBQ Association, qualify for an invitation to larger and more prestigious world championships. They’ll be invited to compete in world championships such as The American Royal, Houston Rodeo Show and the Jack Daniels BBQ World Championship.

That means a sanctioned BBQ contest will attract top-level Pitmasters. And lots of these guys have trucks and stands where you can purchase this delicious award-winning food.

A sanctioned contest generally gives you a lot more choice from top-level BBQ. But don’t let that put you off a good old regular BBQ or backyard get together though.

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2024 Central Florida BBQ Festivals

Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival

As well as a BBQ competition, there’s live music, a cornhole tournament, classic car show and a kid zone. Great fun event for the whole family.

Friday Events – 5pm – 9pm

• Blues Concert – 6-9pm
• Vendors – 5pm to 9pm
• Cornhole
• Kidz Grillin’ Comp

Saturday Events 10am – 6pm

• Blues Concert – noon to 5pm
• Vendors – 10am to 6pm
• Cornhole – Well Seasoned: 12pm | Still Marinating: 2pm
• Shine & Swine Car Show – 11am to 3pm
• Military History Museum – 11am to 5pm
• Business Expo

No pets allowed and no coolers. $5 entry kids under 4 free.

When: January 12th 2024 – 5pm-9pm | January 13th 2024 10am – 6pm
Where: 5200 Airport Road, Zephyrhills, FL
Web: Pigz in Z’Hills
Sanctioned FBA Event

Apopka Police & Fire BBQ Competition

Apopka Police and Fire Departments face-off in this family-friendly BBQ Competition hosted by Sonny’s BBQ Apopka. Plus, Sonny’s will be serving up some smokin’ BBQ.

When: Saturday January 13th 2024
Where: Sonny’s BBQ, 2210 E Semoran Blvd, Apopka, FL 32703
Admission: Free
Info: Sonny’s BBQ

Lakeland PigFest

Join in the good eating and good music for a weekend of fun and food.

When: Friday January 26th 2024 – 5pm-10pm | Saturday January 27th 2024 10am – 5pm
Where: SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, 4175 Medulla Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811
Admission: $5 per person, Kids 12 and under free.
Web: Lakeland Pigfest

Grills Gone Wild – Davenport

Grills Gone Wild in Davenport not only has awesome food and live music, but there’s a classic car show too.

Bay Street Classic Car Show is held Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

When: February 9th & 10th 2024
Where: Market Street, Davenport, Florida
Admission: Free
Sanctioned FBA Event

Ribs on The Ridge

One of the larger Central Florida BBQ contests, Ribs on the Ridge offers endless food varieties, live music, arts and craft vendors and fun for all the family. Professional and backyard BBQ teams from across Florida and the southeast compete for cash prizes and bragging rights.

When: February 17th 2024
Where: Lake Eva Park, 555 Ledwith Ave Haines City, FL 33844 
Admission: Free
Info: Ribs on the Ridge
Sanctioned FBA Event

Planes, Tunes & BBQ

Take the whole family along to this kid-friendly event. Not only is there delicious food to tuck into, but there is lots of entertainment and a classic car show to boot.

• Friday, March 1st: 4pm – 10pm
  • BBQ, Food & Merch Vendors
  • Live Music featuring KINGS COUNTY
• Saturday, March 2nd: 11am– 10pm
  • Live Music featuring Dallas Tyler
  • BBQ, Food & Merch Vendors
  • Seaplane Contests (11AM)
  • Air Show (approx. 2:30pm)
  • Drone Show

When: March 1st/2nd 2024
Where: Wooten Park, 100 E Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32278
Admission: Free

Central Florida BBQ Festivals: Pigapalooza

Pigapalooza in Mulberry features award winning BBQ, a kid zone, live music and plenty of vendors.

When: March 8th & 9th 2024
Where: 310 Kid Ellis Rd Mulberry, FL 33860
Web: Pigapalooza Mullbury and City of Mullbury 
Sanctioned FBA Event

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Event organizers tell us: “Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass and Smoked Beasts! It’s a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbeque eatin’. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE –TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon”.

• BBQ Selection: Pulled pork from whole hogs, ribs, brisket, chickens, sausages and any fixin’ you could imagine.
• Seminars: With Master Distillers, Brewmasters, and Pit Masters From the Deep South.
• Live Rock & Blues Music
• Contests: Tampa’s Best Beer Belly; Drink Like A Lady; Bacon Eating Competition
• All You Care To Taste Beer and Bourbon Tastings: 40 Bourbons and 60 Beers on Tap.
• Games: Giant Jenga, Cornhole and More

Check out the video from a previous event:

When: March 9th 2024 – 2pm – 6pm General Admission | VIP Admission Noon – 6pm
Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa, Florida
Web: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Tampa

Shamrockin’ Fest

You’ll get the best of both worlds with this family BBQ & Beer festival. As well as sampling mouthwatering BBQ, chili and sauces from over 4o of the top teams from around the state, you’ll be able to enjoy live music, a kids play area, parade, fire trucks and plenty more vendors. Plus beers and wines from around the world

And the proceeds go to the Firefighter Charity of Central Florida, which helps local firefighters who are battling medical issues.

• Friday March 15th – 5-11pm
  5PM – Street Party Kick Off – Pipes & Drums
  5PM – Beer & Wine garden opens for sampling
  6PM – Live Music
  7PM – Gates open for Sample appetizers night from the teams
  6:30PM – Cornhole Tournament
  7PM – Special Needs cook
• Saturday March 16th – 11am-11pm
  11AM – Beer & wine Garden open for sampling
  Noon – Street Party begins with Music at main stage
  1PM – Irish parade
  2PM – Gates open for sampling BBQ, Chili & Sauces, Live Music
  7PM – Winners announced
  7PM-11PM – Live Music

When: Friday March 15th & Saturday March 16th 2024
Where: Gator Harley-Davidson, 1745 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg
Web: Shamrockin’ Fest
Sanctioned FBA Event

Central Florida BBQ Festivals: Tampa PigJig

What started out as a small fundraiser backyard cook-off in 2011 is now one of the most popular Central Florida BBQ festivals and has raised millions for NephCure Kidney International.

The event includes live music from headline acts, delicious BBQ and kids games. Artists for 2023 include Brad Paisley, Riley Green, The Head and the Heart, Shovels & Rope and Amanda Shires.

Advance purchase tickets are available: General admission is $35, Beer & BBQ Tickets are $60 and VIP tickets are $130. Children aged 10 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

When: Saturday, October 19th 2024 – 1 – 10pm
Where: Julian B Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 N Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
Web: Tampa PigJig

Rock N Brews BBQ Festival

FBA Sanctioned BBQ contest with a Professional and Backyard Divisions, Kids Cook-off, Ancillary Contest, Bonfire Party and more. There will be live music from local bands on Friday and Saturay, plus a Craft Fair on Saturday. Proceeds are raised for the Freedom Tour for mobile relief for those in need in Polk County.

Free general entry, plus tickets on sale for People’s Choice BBQ Tasting at the Riverfront. People’s Choice Tent is $20 a ticket and includes tastings of pork shoulder from all the BBQ Teams.

When: October 24th/25th/26th 2024
Where: Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort
Web: Rock N Brews
Sanctioned FBA Event

2024 Central Florida BBQ Festivals – To Be Confirmed:

Big Belly BBQ Battle

As well as pitmasters competing in chicken, pork, ribs and brisket, there’s also a dessert competition too. There will be lots of vendors to sample delicious eats along with live music and lots of family fun. Proceeds go to local charities, so you can chow down and do some good too!

When: November 10th/11th 2023
Where: 2525 Frontage Road, Davenport , FL 33837
Sanctioned FBA Event

Plant City Pig Jam

There will be some of the best Southern finger lickin’ barbecue around, live music, kids play area, rock climbing wall, face-painting, moon walk and other family activities. A great day out for all the family.

When: November 17th 2023 5PM – 10PM / November, 18th 2023  10AM to 5PM
Where: 1401 Gordon Food Service Dr, Plant City, FL 33563
Website: Plant City Pig Jam

South Daytona BBQ & Blues Festival

Enjoy a variety of food from vendors, listen to Bluegrass bands and enjoy a beer from the beer garden. Plus, artisan vendors and plenty of activities for the whole family.

When: November 17th/18th 2023
Where: 919 Reed Canal Rd, South Daytona, FL 32119
Sanctioned FBA Event

Orange Blossom Revue

Head to the shores of Lake Wailes in Lake Wales and you’ll find delicious food, live music and craft beers. This festival features an array of BBQ and food trucks for every taste.

When: December 1st/2nd 2023
Where: 33 N Lakeshore Blvd. Lake Wales, FL 33853.
Web: Orange Blossom Revue

Did we miss any Central Florida BBQ events or contests? Let us know and we’ll add them to the list!