RIDGEWAY – Pig on the Ridge is back this year for the 26th year. This is one of South Carolina’s most anticipated barbecue festivals, with cooks and guests from all over the South attending. Pig on the Ridge takes place in downtown Ridgeway on Friday, October 31, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and the cook-off begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.

Friday will have a no-pigs guideline for the cooks to adhere to. This means that the chefs must cook pork-free food at the venue, whether it’s potato salad, macaroni and cheese, shrimp-n-grits, or other items, as long as it’s pork-free.

Guests will buy as many tickets as they want to sample the vendors’ pork-free food. Tickets are $2 each or $40 for 20 tickets. Vendors with the most tickets will win. The first-place winner will receive $500 and a trophy, and the second-place winner will receive $250 and a trophy.

This year, Friday falls on Halloween, so no-pig night will also be Halloween themed with trick-or-treating, a haunted house, and a costume contest for all ages, including adults. There will also be food trucks in case vendors run out of their delicious samples, a local band, and a DJ.

Saturday, Nov. 1, is when the real barbecue cook-off starts. The festival will have professional and amateur teams showing off their cooking chops for the South Carolina Barbeque Association. With anywhere from 40-70 teams competing, each team is provided with 16 Boston butts to feed an anticipated 2,000 to 3,000 guests. Winners will be announced around 2 pm, and winners will receive a variety of cash prizes and trophies. There will also be plenty of fun for the family on Saturday, including performances by the local schools, a hog calling contest for all ages, arts and crafts for sale, a kids’ zone with a bounce house, games, ice cream, and cotton candy for sale. There will also be a DJ and street dancing, a vintage car show, and more.

This festival also doubles as a fundraiser.

“Our sponsors help with the expenses for the festival, but the revenue from the festival goes to the churches to help buy Christmas gifts for children,” said Gloria Keefe, the co-chair of Pig on the Ridge Festival. “A few years ago, we also donated a machine to the Fairfield Fire Department that helps with the rescue and recovery of burn victims. Whatever we make always goes back to the community”. Tickets are $2 each and can only be bought at the festival.

For more information on Pig on the Ridge, visit pigontheridgesc.com or their official Facebook page.