The seeds for the Lakeland Pigfest were first planted in 1994 when a small group of local businessmen, vacationing in North Carolina, attended a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned barbeque championship in Tryon, North Carolina. As interest grew in the community, then Governor Lawton Chiles signed a request for the formal sanctioning of the Lakeland Pigfest as a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) State Championship on November 19,1996. Finally, a date was set to bring a barbeque championship to Lakeland, and on March 21, 1997 the Lakeland Pigfest was born.
In the beginning, the goals of the Lakeland Pigfest were pretty simple:
▪ Raise money for local charitable organizations;
▪ Create a relaxing event for all walks of life;
▪ Eat some world-class barbeque!
As with any new contest, there were several years of trial and error trying to find the perfect “recipe” for success. During these early years, the contest was held in March or April; however, in 2000 a decision was made to move the contest to late-January. Each successive year has brought more contestants and greater attendance. But nothing was possible without the dedication of community volunteers.
In 2004, a Kids-Q Contest was added, and immediately became a permanent part of the event.
In 2008, Pigfest was expanded to include Friday evening activities. With the addition of live music and entertainment, fun food competition, and BBQ vending, the event continued to be a great success. To date, the Lakeland Pigfest has contributed nearly $500,000 to local charities and is recognized nationally as one of the best Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) BBQ events in the country.
The mission of the Lakeland Pigfest, Inc. is to continue to promote and improve the event as it has since it’s beginning, so that it is enjoyed by the participants and our community and serves the charitable organizations of the greater Lakeland area and we are proud to report that this mission continues to be met!
kinder’s professional bbq contest
KCBS is “the largest international organization of barbeque enthusiasts” and has sanctioned the Lakeland Pigfest since its first contest in 1997. Professional teams travel from all over the U.S. to compete in four categories: Ribs, Chicken, Pork and Brisket. They come for camaraderie and the Florida sunshine (what could be better than Florida in January!) . Some of them are even interested in the prize money. Over 200 teams from 17 states have competed in Lakeland since 1997. Many return year after year.
publix backyard competition presented by kingsford
Publix Super Markets and Publix Charities have been major sponsors of the Lakeland Pigfest since 1997. The Publix Backyard Competition teams compete in the same four categories of Ribs, Chicken, Pork and Brisket. The difference is that the backyard group is composed of local teams, competing for bragging rights, ribbons and trophies. The backyard contest follows rules similar to the KCBS Rules and Regulations. Many members of the backyard teams attend Judging School to learn what the judges are looking for in taste, tenderness/texture and presentation. When they feel they’re ready, many go on to compete in the pro competition.
the applegate kids-q competition
The Lakeland Pigfest’s first Kids-Q Cooking Contest was held in 2003. The contest follows all KCBS Kids rules and regulations. All children cook in a designated area on their own grills, and awards are presented at the main stage.
“Children’s participation in the Kids-Q event will help ensure that barbecuing — America’s favorite pastime — will never become a lost art.” Carolyn Wells
view this year’s event map
view this year’s teams
Kingsford Pro Teams
2ND HAND SMOKE BBQ
ACCUTECH BBQ
ATOMIC CITY SMOKERS
BAD AZZ MULE BBQ
BEARDED MONKEYS TWISTED Q
BTEAM BBQ
BURNING BUSH BBQ
BUTTS ON THE BARBIE
COOTERS N SMOKE
DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS
FERGOLICIOUS BBQ
FRED VEGAS SMOKERS
GETTIN’ BASTED
GHOST Q
GILBERT RIB KING
GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ
GUINEA PIGS BBQ
HAM SQUAD
HEIFERS, BUTTS & CLUCKS BBQ
HENRY’S KITCHEN
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ
HOT WACHULA’S
IS IT READY YET? BBQ
J’S SMOKIN’ BBQ
K&E’S LITTLE SMOKERS
KEEPIN IT SMOKIN
KINGS BBQ
LAZYJ BBQ
MAD DOG BBQ
NEWMAN BBQ, LLC
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE
ONE BITE BBQ
OPTIMUS SWINE
PAPPY & ROLEY’S APPALACHIAN BBQ
PIGGIN’ WHISKEY
POPPAS PIG
Q-JITSU
ROOSTERS, BULLS & BOARS
SLAPULATOR BBQ
SMOKESHACK BBQ
SMOKIN’ & POKIN’
SMOKIN’ ACES BBQ
SMOKIN’ AIN’T EZ BBQ
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ
SMOKING BUTT HEADS
SWAMP BOYS BBQ
SWEET SMOKE Q
SWINOS
TARHEEL COOKERS
TEAM SMOKE SHOWIN
TILLMAN’S BBQ
UNCLE PIG’S BARBEQUE PIT
UNCLE TOAD AND THE KOON D
WB BBQ PRODUCTS
WHISKEY BENT
WHO CARES BBQ
Publix Backyard Teams
2 LIVE QUE
92 BB CREW
A BUTT TO REMEMBER
APPLIANCE WAREHOUSE BBQ
BAILEY’S BBQ SAUCE
BARELY SOBER BBQ
BBQMYWAY
BBQTS
BELLY BUSTIN BISTRO
BETHUNE’S BBQ LLC
BIG RED BBQ
BOFAB BBQ
BOURBON & BLUES BBQ
BUTTZ & HOSE BBQ
COOL GUYS WITH HOT GRILLS
CRACKALACKEN
DENIM DAN THE BBQ MAN
DISSENT CRAFT BREWING BBQ
DOWN SOUTH BBQ
DRUNKIN BROTHERS BBQ
EVANS RANCH BBQ
GETTIN’ PIGGY WITH IT
GJQ
GOOD AS ANY BBQ
GOURMET REDNECKS
GREASE MONKEY
HOOKED ON QUE
JOE BEARS BBQ
JP BBQ AND CATERING
K-DUBS BBQ
LIL DIS LIL DAT
NUTS & BOLTS
PIPKIN CREEK BBQ CO.
PODUNK PORKERS
PORKGANIC BBQ
RAMBLIN FORK BBQ COMPANY
RING OF FIRE BBQ
SBOP
SHAKEN BAKEN
SLOPPY 2ND’S BBQ
SMOKE ME TENDER
SOGGY SANIBELIANS
SONS OF HAMARCHY
SOUTHERN-OINK-N-DOINK
SUCKIN BONES BBQ
THE RUSTY PIG
THE SMOKED BISCUIT COMPANY
THE SMOKIN’ HOOLIGANS
UNCLE BUCKY’S SOUTHERN BBQ
UNCLE G’S BBQ
UNCLE JOHNS PRIDE
VETERAN PORK PULLERS
Past Results
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 8814
Lakeland, Florida 33806