Elizabethtown: Light the pits like the Olympic flames, because the Carolinas BBQ competition is here and the title of best fine pork BBQ is on the line.
In the first Smithfield Cup, which will be held this fall in ancient Elizabethtown, barbecue teams from North Carolina and South Carolina will compete to see which is the best.
On Sunday, October 13, the new event will take place on the grounds of the beautiful Cape Fear Distillery. A small group of pitmasters from the Carolinas will prepare pork samples from Smithfield Foods, the event’s title sponsor. Smithfield Foods runs the world’s largest pork processing plant in nearby Tar Heel.
The town of Elizabethtown is also one of the sponsors of this one-of-a-kind culinary event.
People who go to the event will be able to try chopped barbecue, ribs, and more, as well as one Southern side from each team. They can then vote for the best barbecue in the People’s Choice category. The winning team will get the Smithfield Cup and have to keep it in the winning state for a year.
The Smithfield Cup will take place from noon to five o’clock, and tickets are $20 for general entry. VIP Early Bird tickets are only $40 for a small number of people.
People with that VIP experience can get into the event an hour before the general public, at 11 a.m., to beat the crowds, and can try each of the team’s offers a second time.
Military members and veterans can get in for $15, and kids under 14 get in for FREE.
There will be two skilled pitmasters and two amateurs on each of the two barbecue teams. Lewis Donald from Sweet Lew’s BBQ in Charlotte and Jake Wood from Lawrence are the most skilled people in North Carolina.
Grilling in Durham, Dylan Cooke from Fork Grove BBQ in Anderson, South Carolina, and Robbie Robinson from City Limits BBQ in Columbia, South Carolina, are the best in South Carolina.
“It’s exciting to honor one of our area’s farming industries with a real food experience that everyone can enjoy,” said Sylvia Campbell, mayor of Elizabethtown. “We’re sure this event will bring more people to our cute little town to see it, shop in the downtown area, and experience the true spirit of southern hospitality.”
“We’re excited to welcome people to Elizabethtown and share our rich history through one of our top attractions,” said Dane Rideout, the town manager. “What could be better than a barbecue competition between the best chefs from North Carolina and South Carolina to celebrate?” As long as someone wins, the event will be exciting for everyone.
There will also be live music and entertainment, a display of vintage cars, a Kids Zone with a petting zoo, barbecue sauce and rub vendors competing and tasting, and a choice of local craft beer, wine, and spirits. Carolina CoPacking is the event’s main sponsor.
At this point, Cape Fear Distillery, one of the event’s main sponsors, is one of the best wineries in North Carolina, offering 13 types of liquor and many wines.
Elizabethtown, which has a cute downtown area, marked its 250th birthday in 2023. It takes about an hour to get from Bladen County to Wilmington, 35 miles to get from Fayetteville, and 20 minutes to get from Lumberton.
Tarheel Festivals will run the Smithfield Cup. They are also in charge of the fourth annual Pinehurst bbq Festival, which takes place in the Village of Pinehurst over Labor Day weekend.
About Tarheel Festivals:
Tarheel Festivals, LLC is a full-service company based in Pinehurst that plans and runs events. Its team of professionals has been putting on big events for over 40 years, and they create fair experiences that range from inspiring to integrating.
The Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has chosen Tarheel Festivals, LLC as its official event partner. They will also put on the fourth annual Pinehurst barbecue Festival over Labor Day weekend and the sixth annual Festival D’Avion at the Moore Country Airport on October 26, 2024.
For tickets to the Smithfield Cup and additional information log on to www.smithfieldcup.com .
Contact Information:
Dave Droschak, Droschak Communications,
919-630-6656
Peter Stilwell, Tarheel Communications Solutions,
910-528-7101