Keep an eye out for the 2026 festival dates! This is one you won’t want to miss. If you’re not a pig (or chicken) person, the venue is phenomenal. Riverfront Park has remarkable views, perfect for enjoying a Saturday in the great outdoors. We’ve been for fortunate to experience this festival for three consecutive years!
Sysco and many other sponsors team up to raise funds and awareness for pediatric brain cancer patients and their families. All proceeds stay in South Carolina, supporting Hogs For The Cause and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston. According to Hogs For The Cause website, “Pediatric Brain Cancer is the leading terminal cancer in children in the U.S. Hogs For The Cause is the premier nationwide funding source for outreach services to these families.” The festival has raised over $410,000 in four years.
Discovering the cause behind all the food and fun makes it even more filling!
Families pulling wagons with littles and lawn chairs come prepared to spend the day. Smoke and music fill the air while event-goers fill their stomachs. Over fifty chefs and multiple bands make this “one of the largest barbecue and music festivals in the country.”
Huge, open grills scattered over the grounds send out smells that lure folks in like the Pied Piper. Tents and umbrellas provide shade if you’re early enough to spy one. You’ll find activities for kids of all ages. Bring your favorite football fan and plant ‘em down in front of the big screen. Great southern traditions like football and barbecue are better together!
A quick tip before you step out in your jeans and boots: November in the south often feels more like Independence Day than Thanksgiving. Pack an umbrella – for sun or showers – and savor the season!
On a more personal note…
The Holy Smokes BBQ Festival holds a special place in my heart. My older brother had cancer when we were kids. I have fond memories of time spent at the Ronald McDonald House. The houses are sanctuaries filled with comfort, kindness, and a sense of home when you have to be away from yours. Supporting this festival means giving back to an organization that wraps families in love during their hardest days. Every bite of BBQ and every dollar raised helps families like mine find comfort and hope when life turns upside down.
A HUGE ‘thank you’ to Holy Smokes for serving up so much more than great BBQ!