Hogs and Hens Festival: A Taste of Abbeville’s Best BBQ, Music, and Community

Barbecue season continues into the fall in South Carolina with Hogs and Hens Festival in historic Abbeville, SC. This two-day event brings together the best of barbecue, live music, family fun, and local culture — all wrapped in small-town charm.

The Low and Barbecue Show learned more about Hogs and Hens during this recent episode. Event organizer Emily Bledsoe shares all the details about the festival and what makes it so unique. Listen to our conversation here.

Keep reading for all the details about this year’s Hogs and Hens Festival. Check back for updates as they are announced.

What is Hogs and Hens?

The Hogs and Hens Festival is an annual barbecue and music festival that began in 2013. It combines competitive barbecue cook-offs, food vendors, craft stalls, kids’ activities, and live performances.

• Where: Downtown Abbeville, SC, centered on the city’s historic brick-paved square. Surrounded by landmarks like the Opera House, the Belmont Inn, and Trinity Church, the setting adds to the festival’s unique charm.
• When: Every October, with the 2025 event happening October 17–18. Friday night kicks off with food and live music. Saturday expands into a full-day celebration with competitions, concerts, and family-friendly activities. See the complete event schedule below.
• Who benefits: Each year, a local nonprofit is chosen as the festival’s benefactor. Past recipients include food banks and youth centers, and in 2025 a meals-on-wheels-type program will benefit directly from the event’s exposure and donations.

Hogs and Hens Festival organizers partner with the Southern Barbecue Network to coordinate the barbecue competition and provide certified judges. Nearly 20 food vendors, barbecue teams, craft makers, and musicians make up the heart of the festival. Families, foodies, and travelers from across South Carolina (and beyond) attend each year.

Why Hogs and Hens is a Must-Visit

Hogs and Hens Festival is special for more than the barbecue — though you’ll find award-winning pulled pork, chicken, brisket, and even hash on the menu.

The annual event in Abbeville is especially unique thanks to the atmosphere.

Hogs and Hens has grown in popularity while keeping a laid-back, small-town feel. For the first time, families can enjoy the Kids Zone in 2025 along with mainstays like sweet festival treats fried Oreos and funnel cakes, local craft shopping.

Explore Abbeville’s historic downtown, including the Abbeville Opera House, South Carolina’s official state theatre. Dozens of 19th century homes and turn-of-the-century architecture flourish in downtown Abbeville, which claims to be the “birthplace and deathbed of the Confederacy.”

And for food lovers, there’s an extra perk: many of the competing barbecue teams also serve their food to the public, meaning you can taste what the judges are tasting.

Plan to attend the Southern BBQ Network Awards Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. to find out which teams get the call and punch their ticket to the annual SBN Pitmaster Invitational.

Hogs and Hens Festival Schedule

Friday, Oct. 17

• 5-8 p.m.: Vending hours.
• 6-8 p.m.: Swingin’ Medallions (Beach music)

Saturday, Oct. 18

• 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Kids Zone
• 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Vending Hours
• 1-2 p.m.: Gospel Celebration
• 2:30 p.m.: Southern BBQ Network Awards
• 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Matt Buckland (Pop)
• 6 – 8 p.m.: The Mighty Kicks (Beach, Motown, Soul)

Hogs and Hens Kid Zone

For the first time, the Hogs and Hens Kids Zone will open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 on North Main Street.

Drink Wristbands

Beer and wine are permitted in the festival with the purchase of a wristband at the Festival Information tent. Beer and wine must be purchased from licensed downtown businesses. No outside beer or wine permitted.

Plan Your Visit

The Hogs and Hens Festival is free to attend. Parking and overnight accommodations are available nearby, with options like the historic Belmont Inn and local bed-and-breakfasts. Whether you’re traveling from Greenville, Columbia, or across the Georgia or North Carolina borders, Abbeville welcomes you to join in the celebration.

For details and updates, check the City of Abbeville’s official events page or its social media platform.