Every year, South Carolina offers countless opportunities to savor mouthwatering barbecue at one of the state's many exciting festivals. With delicious eats, compelling entertainment and a competitive yet friendly spirit, each of these festivals is a treat for the taste buds and beyond.

Festival season gets an early start with Port Royal's Bands, Brews & BBQ event, a South Carolina Barbeque Association-sanctioned cook-off. The event includes a Wing Throw Down, a barbecue cook-off showcasing some of the area's best bites and live music from local talent.

March brings a 2014 first to Walterboro with the Smoke in the 'Boro festival. The festival includes an “Anything Butt” barbecue competition, a “Butts Only” contest and activities for children.

Also in March, good barbecue meets good fellowship at the Smokin' at the Farmers Market, the Commissioner's Cup BBQ Cook-off & Festival. The two-day event at the State Farmers Market in West Columbia features barbecue pit masters and their teams from across the Southeast vying for the state championship and top prizes. Guests always enjoy barbecue tastings, entertainment and local vendors selling specialty food made in South Carolina. For more information, contact the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Late March brings the Hub City Hog Fest to Spartanburg's recently renovated downtown Grain District. The 2014 inaugural event benefited Mobile Meals of Spartanburg and featured a barbecue competition, an awards ceremony for the best 'cue and live music. For more information, visit Hub City Hog Fest.

April festivals take you to the Pee Dee region with the town of Hemingway's BBQ Shag Festival, 26 years in the running. The festival includes a cook-off, arts and crafts, a car show and live music from the Josh Brannon Band. For more information, visit South Carolina BBQ Shag Festival.

In the Lowcountry, April's Taste of Bluffton offers a celebration of Lowcountry sights and flavors with delicious bites from Bluffton's favorite restaurants, including its best barbecue.  

In late April, music enthusiasts flock to the Southern Flame Food and Music Festival at The Ponds in Summerville. The all-day event includes a barbecue competition packed with Southern favorites from more than 20 teams along with impressive live entertainment. For more information, visit the Southern Flame Food and Music Festival.

In the state's Olde English District, the city of Chester hosts the annual Hog on the Hill BBQ Cookoff 
every May. Teams compete for titles such as “Anything But” and “Best BBQ,” while guests enjoy rides, homemade ice cream treats, and horse and carriage rides. For more information, visit Hog on the Hill BBQ Cookoff.

Also held in May is Saluda Shoals Park's annual Picking and Pigging at the Park event. Located in Irmo near the capital city of Columbia, Saluda Shoals is an inviting riverfront park of more than 400 acres. Its world-class barbecue cook-off and music celebration showcases some of South Carolina's best barbecue and local bands. The barbecue team competition is limited to 20 participants with the best cooks winning prizes of up to $1,250. For more information, visitSaluda Shoals Park.

Newberry hosts Pork in the Park in May, a Southern Barbecue Network-sanctioned event as of 2014, with tasty samplings from barbecue destinations across the South as well as live entertainment.

Williamston in the Pendleton District hosts the Pig in the Park Festival in mid-May. The charity event includes two days of family fun with barbecue tastings and competitions, specialty crafts and entertainment. For more information, visitPig in the Park Festival.

In June, Beaufort's High on the Hog Festival is not to be missed. The annual event, held in 2014 at Whitehall Plantation on Lady's Island, supports the Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity and is sanctioned by the South Carolina Barbeque Association. Guests sample barbecue favorites from three states as the best cooks compete for prizes and awards. For more information, visit High on the Hog Festival.

Greenwood highlights barbecue and the blues at its 14th annual Festival of Discovery event in July. Attendees are treated to a weekend of food, live music and tradition as they learn about the rich culture of Greenwood. The “Blues Cruise” entices guests with live blues entertainment at nine different venues across the uptown area. For more information, visit Festival of Discovery.

Blacksburg's Kings Mountain State Park hosts its Barbecue Cookoff in late July as part of the Camper Cookoff Series. Participating competitors will be judged on a barbecue dish. In addition to its popular events throughout the year, Kings Mountain is home to scenic hiking trails and two fishing lakes and is next door to Kings Mountain National Military Park. For more information, visit King's Mountain State Park.

Rounding out the summer season is the FLW Forrest Wood Cup in Lake Murray. Taking place August 14 – 17 in 2014, attendees will sample barbecue from the Lake Murray Country region while enjoying the most prestigious bass fishing tournament of the year. The tournament includes the FLW Expo, the outdoor industry's premier expo, offering a packed variety of celebrity appearances, education seminars, giveaways and more. For more information, visit FLW Forrest Wood Cup.

South Carolina is just right for vacations, with 187 miles of Atlantic coastline, lake regions and coastal plain in the Midlands and the deeply forested Blue Ridge Mountains in the upper west corner. Its moderate year-round temperatures attract millions who enjoy its natural resources and inspiring historical and cultural attractions as well as fine dining, regional cuisine, charming small towns and world-renowned golf experiences. 

For additional information regarding South Carolina's vast array of unique opportunities for enrichment, excitement and escape, as well as a free copy of our special downloadable/printable South Carolina Barbecue Trail Map, featuring more than 200 barbecue restaurants, please visit DiscoverSouthCarolina.com or SouthCarolinaParks.com. 
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