@ Taking Over Downtown Spartanburg transforms into a virtual hog heaven when Hub City Hog Fest takes over several roads around Morgan Square. Hub City Hog Fest is a festival and barbecue contest that supports Mobile Meals of Spartanburg. In fact, the City of Spartanburg blocks off those roads to provide space for the dozens of cook teams that compete in this annual BBQ competition. The two-day-long event features an amazing collection of competition BBQ teams, music performers, and food vendors. The event runs from noon to 11 p.m. Friday and from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday. On Friday, entrance into the event from noon to 5 p.m. is FREE. After 5 p.m., wristbands must be purchased for $5 each. On Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., $5 wristbands must be purchased. Children 10 and under are admitted free. There will be chicken wing samples from the competition teams available from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday evening. The samples of the competition teams’ barbecue and ribs are only available from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Vendors will be on site selling BBQ all weekend. Hog Bucks must be used to purchase food from vendors and to sample BBQ from competition teams (while supplies last). Beginnings Grey Wicker founded the event with his brother, Cal, in 2013. Wicker noted that they actually modeled Hub City Hog Fest after the Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival, which ran for twenty-plus years in nearby Tryon, N.C. “We were actually cooking at that event when we decided to do one in Spartanburg,” Grey said. “I think more barbecue events around the state raise the level of excitement about all of them.” Clearly, The Hub City Hog Fest has shown similar success, having become one of the things folks in Spartanburg look forward to as they put winter behind them. “Hub City Hog Fest brings a vibrant energy to our downtown every spring,” said Johnson Development CEO Geordy Johnson. “Our team members love attending the festival for the camaraderie, the food, and the opportunity to make a difference for an important local nonprofit while enjoying both. We applaud the Hog Fest team for continuing to provide an exceptional downtown festival experience.” The Competition However, at the center of all the food and fun, they’ve established a serious South Carolina Barbeque Association-sanctioned BBQ cook-off. “I think (the SCBA) considers our event one of their flagship events,” Wicker said. “It’s really big, and it showcases a thriving downtown area, which most events in the state do not. A lot of these barbecue competitions they hold out in fields, which is great because there’s more room. But there’s nothing quite like the experience we offer here in Spartanburg.” The competition part of The Hub City Hog Fest is organized and judged in accordance with the SCBA’s rules and regulations. The SCBA also supplies highly-trained judges who assess each of the entries in a blind competition. “We’re very excited to get cracking again,” said Grey Wicker. “Each...
