An all-star BBQ festival is coming to Raleigh. Here’s how to score tickets

Drew Jackson
·2 min read

A staggering collection of top barbecue and culinary talent will assemble in Raleigh next month for a brand new food festival.

Organized by Lawrence Barbecue owner Jake Wood, Gettin’ Piggy With It will bring together some of the most acclaimed pitmasters in the Southeast for a one-day feast on Sunday, May 21 at Maywood Hall & Garden, located at 622 Maywood Ave. in Raleigh.

Proceeds from the event benefit Raleigh’s Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center, a group connected to the Triangle’s culinary scene through high profile fundraising efforts like the Triangle Wine Experience.

Getting a plate of barbecue from most of these pitmasters usually means driving for hours and waiting even longer in line. Now they’ll all be in one place for one afternoon.

Organizer Jake Wood said the goal is to raise $100,000 for the Frankie Lemmon School.

Gettin’ Piggy With It will feature barbecue from many of the top new school barbecue restaurants in the Carolinas, members of a generation reviving North Carolina’s most famous food. From the Triangle you’ll find Lawrence Barbecue, Longleaf Swine and Dampf Good BBQ.

From elsewhere in North Carolina, the red hot Jon G’s Barbecue, Southern Smoke and Shepard BBQ will make rare Triangle appearances. Lewis Barbecue and King BBQ from Charlestion, SC, will make the drive north to Raleigh, and Zef BBQ from Los Angelea — which Eater California called one of the state’s best new restaurants — is making the transcontinental trek to share its barbecue.

Beyond barbecue, food will also come from Durham’s Ex-Voto and Locals Seafood, Raleigh sandwich shop (ish) Delicatessen and Wye Hill, and oysters from N. Sea Oyster near Surf City.

The festival will be held at Trophy Brewing’s event space Maywood Hall & Garden, which will supply the beer and cocktails from Young Hearts Distilling. Desserts will come from Andia’s Ice Cream, Tepuy Donuts and Wonderpuff Cotton Candy.

Tickets to Gettin’ Piggy With It

Tickets are currently on sale at four different levels.

  • A two-day VIP ticket is $250, general admission for Sunday is $150 and it’s $100 for those under 21.

  • Kids 10 and younger get in free.

Visit frankielemmonschool.org/events/gettin-piggy-with-it for tickets or more information.

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