Pinehurst Barbecue Festival Celebrates North Carolina Flavor, Tradition and Community
The unmistakable aroma of slow-cooked barbecue once again filled the North Carolina Sandhills over Labor Day weekend as the 2026 Pinehurst Barbecue Festival brought together talented pitmasters, barbecue enthusiasts, visitors, local businesses and community supporters for three days devoted to one of the state’s most celebrated culinary traditions. Held September 4 through September 6 in and around the Village of Pinehurst, the annual festival offered much more than an opportunity to enjoy great food, because the weekend became a showcase of North Carolina culture, hospitality, craftsmanship and the traditions that have helped make barbecue an important part of the state’s identity. Featuring seven accomplished North Carolina pitmasters during its signature Sunday event and a weekend schedule that included specialty dining, grilling instruction, bourbon pairings and barbecue sampling, the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival once again demonstrated how food can become a powerful centerpiece for tourism, community gathering and regional pride.
The celebration began Friday evening with the High On The Hog Gourmet Pitmaster Dinner at Pinehurst’s historic Fair Barn, where guests experienced an elevated interpretation of traditional barbecue under the direction of pitmasters Matthew Register of Southern Smoke Barbecue and Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ. Rather than treating barbecue simply as casual fare, the evening highlighted the creativity and craftsmanship that can transform familiar Southern flavors into a distinctive culinary experience, with barbecue creations complemented by appetizers and dessert prepared by Got To Be NC chefs. The evening also included liquor sampling, a silent auction, a spirits pull and a cash bar, creating an atmosphere that blended North Carolina food traditions with the hospitality and elegance for which the Pinehurst area has become known.
Saturday continued the festival with an educational experience designed for people interested in learning more about what happens before perfectly prepared barbecue ever reaches the plate, as the “Q” School Grilling Class was held at the Moore County Airport in Carthage. Pitmaster Ron Simmons of Master Blend Family Farms in Kenansville led the class, providing cooking and grilling demonstrations involving different meats and grilling techniques before participants had an opportunity to sample food following the instruction. Events such as “Q” School help preserve the knowledge behind North Carolina barbecue by giving participants an opportunity to better understand temperature, preparation, cooking methods and the patience required to create memorable barbecue, while also reinforcing the idea that barbecue is a craft passed from one generation of cooks and pitmasters to another.
The flavor of Saturday continued into the evening with Bourbon & Bites, which moved into Carolina Hall at Pinehurst’s historic Carolina Hotel for the 2026 celebration. Hosted by Pinehurst Resort, the event paired five bourbon selections with chef-created small plates inspired by five of the resort’s restaurants, giving participants another opportunity to explore how carefully selected beverages and food can complement one another. The setting offered a refined contrast to the smoke, grills and outdoor atmosphere traditionally associated with barbecue festivals, demonstrating that the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival has grown into a multifaceted culinary weekend capable of appealing to longtime barbecue enthusiasts as well as visitors looking for a broader food and hospitality experience.
Sunday brought the festival to its signature conclusion with the Pitmaster Invitational in the Village of Pinehurst, where seven North Carolina pitmasters prepared barbecue samples accompanied by traditional Southern sides for ticket holders. Early-entry guests were able to begin sampling at 11 a.m., while general admission sampling began at noon, and the festival continued until 4 p.m. In addition to the featured barbecue, the event included craft and domestic beer, spirit sampling, sauce and rub vendors, Got To Be NC vendors and entertainment, creating an experience that extended well beyond the food itself. The Pitmaster Invitational was also designed as a family-friendly event, allowing people of different ages to enjoy the Village atmosphere while discovering the flavors and personalities behind North Carolina barbecue.
One of the qualities that makes an event such as the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival important to the region is its ability to connect food with tourism and economic activity, particularly in a destination already recognized around the world for golf, hospitality and the distinctive character of the North Carolina Sandhills. Visitors coming into Pinehurst for a festival do not experience only the scheduled events, because they may also discover area restaurants, retailers, accommodations and attractions while spending time throughout Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen and the surrounding Moore County communities. Festivals can therefore serve as valuable introductions to an area, encouraging visitors to see more of the community while creating opportunities for businesses and organizations to gain additional exposure.
The festival also highlighted the value of North Carolina-made products and the people who create them, particularly through the participation of Got To Be NC vendors and culinary professionals who help connect consumers with products grown, produced or created within the state. Supporting local and regional producers strengthens the relationship between agriculture, small businesses, restaurants, tourism and consumers, while events centered around food provide a natural environment in which those connections can grow. When visitors taste a barbecue sauce, discover a rub, meet a producer or learn about a North Carolina business during an event, that introduction can continue long after the festival ends through future purchases, recommendations and return visits.
Beyond the food and economic activity, barbecue festivals have a special ability to create conversations among people who may otherwise never meet, because few things encourage strangers to begin talking faster than standing together near a smoker and debating their favorite style of barbecue. North Carolina’s barbecue traditions have inspired passionate opinions for generations, whether the conversation involves pork, brisket, ribs, sauces, seasoning, smoke, sides or regional cooking techniques, yet the larger tradition has always centered on gathering people together around a shared table. The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival embraced that spirit throughout the weekend by creating experiences where visitors could learn, taste, socialize and celebrate a culinary tradition that remains deeply connected to North Carolina history.
The festival also carried a charitable dimension, with the 2026 event proudly supporting Children of Fallen Heroes, adding a community-minded purpose to a weekend already centered on bringing people together. The combination of food, hospitality, charitable support, local vendors and regional tourism demonstrates why successful community festivals can have an impact that extends beyond entertainment, because they create opportunities to introduce visitors to local organizations, businesses, traditions and causes while strengthening the identity of the communities hosting them.
As the smoke cleared over Pinehurst following the final afternoon of the 2026 festival, the weekend provided another reminder that some of North Carolina’s most meaningful traditions are found not only in historic buildings, famous destinations or major attractions, but also around tables where people gather to share food and conversation. The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival combined the unmistakable flavors of North Carolina barbecue with the character of Pinehurst and the Sandhills, creating a Labor Day weekend celebration that showcased pitmasters, chefs, local products, hospitality and community spirit while giving residents and visitors another reason to explore this distinctive region of North Carolina.
For Hoke County residents, Pinehurst is also a reminder that some of the region’s most interesting festivals, attractions and experiences are located within the broader Sandhills community, making events such as the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival valuable not only to Moore County but to neighboring communities throughout southeastern and central North Carolina. As We Are Hoke continues connecting readers with things to see, places to visit, businesses to discover and experiences throughout Hoke County and the surrounding region, events such as this demonstrate just how much there is to explore close to home.
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