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

Some 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.

2025 Central Florida BBQ Festivals

Lakeland PigFest

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

When: Friday January 24th 2025 – 5pm-10pm | Saturday January 25th 2025 10am – 5pm
Where: SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, 4175 Medulla Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811
Admission: $5 per person, Kids 12 and under free with adult entry.
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 7th & 8th 2025
Where: Market Street, Davenport, Florida
Admission: Free

15th 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.

2025 Festival Events:

• Blues Concert – 11am – 5pm
• Vendors featuring arts & crafts and more
• Kidz Grilling Competition
• Cornhole Tournament
• Kidz Fun Zone
• Hog Calling Contest
• Wing Eating Contest

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

When: Saturday February 8th 2025 9am to 5 pm
Where: Downtown 5th Avenue, Zephyrhills, Florida
Web: Pigz in Z’Hills

Ribs on The Ridge

One of the popular local 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 14th & 15th 2025
Where: Lake Eva Park, 555 Ledwith Ave Haines City, FL 33844 
Admission: Free
Info: Ribs on the Ridge

Teco Family BBQ Cook-Off for Charity

Take your appetite over to Riverview for a fun-filled family day of great food and community support. All proceeds go towards the Children’s Cancer Center.

Events include:

• Mouthwatering BBQ
• Raffles and Giveaways
• Family Friendly Activities
• Car Show

$15 admission includes all you can eat BBQ samples, kids under 10 are free.

When: Saturday February 22nd 2025 – 10am to 4pm
Where: Showmen’s International, 6915 Riverview Dr. Riverview, FL
Web: Teco BBQ Cook Off

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, a drone show and Seaplane-A-Palooza flying competitions. Seating is limited, but you are welcome to take chairs or blankets to sit on.

• Friday, February 28th: 4pm – 9pm
  • BBQ, Food & Merch Vendors
  • Live Music
• Saturday, March 1st: 11am– 10pm
  • Live Music
  • BBQ, Food & Merch Vendors
  • Seaplane Contests (11AM)
  • Drone Show

Free Parking Garage: 200 N. Sinclair Ave. Tavares.

When: Friday February 28th 2025 / Saturday March 1st 2025 
Where: Wooten Park, 100 E Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32278
Admission: Free

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Two days of delicious BBQ, beers, bourbon and fun is coming to Tampa in March.

• 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: Bourbons and Beers on Tap.
• Games: Giant Jenga, Cornhole and More

Check out the video from a previous event:

Tickets start at $45 and include exclusive tasting experience, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, all live entertainment and more.

When: Friday March 7th 2025 – 6pm – 10pm General & VIP Admission | Saturday March 8th – 2pm – 6pm General Admission, VIP Admission Noon – 6pm
Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa, Florida
Web: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Tampa

Shamrockin’ Fest BBQ & Beer Festival

Sanctioned FBA Event

You’ll get the best of both worlds with this family BBQ & Beer festival. As well as sampling mouthwatering BBQ, chili and sauces from top teams, you’ll enjoy live music, a kids play area, Irish Parade, fire trucks and plenty more vendors. Plus over 20 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.

When: Friday March 14th & Saturday March 15th 2025
Where: Gator Harley-Davidson, 1745 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg
Web: Shamrockin’ Fest

Pig on The Pond

Enjoy this 3 day festival in Clermont, with BBQ, a carnival, live music and entertainment, kids zone, competitions and fireworks.

This is the 26th annual Pig on the Pond Festival, which raises funds for local students.

When: March 28 2025: 5-10pm, March 29 2025: 10am-10pm, March 30 2025: 11am-5pm
Where: Waterfront Park, Clermont
Web: Pig on the Pond

Heart of Florida Health Center BBQ Bash

Sanctioned FBA Event

Get ready for the first annual Heart of Florida Health Center BBQ Bash is being held in Ocala in April.

When: April 5th 2025
Where: 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd Ocala, FL 34470
Web: HFHC

Clermont Main Street Brews & BBQ

Downtown Clermont is host to this fun day filled with delicious BBQ and craft beers accompanied by live music and entertainment.

• Craft Beer Tastings
• BBQ competitions
• Classic Car Show
• Local Vendors & Food Trucks

When: Sunday, June 15, 2025
Where: 756 W. Montrose Street, Clermont, FL 34711
Web: Clermont Brews & BBA

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.

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: October 18 2025 – 1 – 10pm
Where: Julian B Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 N Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
Web: Tampa PigJig

Big Belly BBQ Battle

Sanctioned FBA Event

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 14th/15th 2025
Where: 2525 Frontage Road, Davenport , FL 33837

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 5th/6th 2o25
Where: 33 N Lakeshore Blvd. Lake Wales, FL 33853.
Web: Orange Blossom Revue

Central Florida BBQ Festivals
Not Yet Confirmed

Rock N Brews BBQ Festival

Professional and Backyard Divisions, Kids Cook-off, Ancillary Contest, Bonfire Party and more. There will be live music from local bands on Friday and Saturday, 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: 
Where: Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort
Web: Rock N Brews

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: 
Where: 1401 Gordon Food Service Dr, Plant City, FL 33563
Website: Plant City Pig Jam

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

If you are visiting to experience Central Florida BBQ Festivals, we’d love to welcome you to one of our cozy Orlando Vacation Homes.
An awesome alternative to hotels for comfort, space and privacy!