Marking its 5^th fun-filled, food-fueled year, the 2020 Sip & Swine BBQ Festival makes its much-anticipated return to Coolray Field on March 6-7. After half a decade, the organizers of the festival have learned a thing or two about throwing a great event – combine a wide array of food expertly prepared by professional AND amateur pit masters with live music played on the big stage, cold beer on tap for 21+ attendees, and over 100 arts & crafts vendors on site. But there’s far more to this event than the heavenly aroma of BBQ on the breeze. Proceeds from the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival benefit the Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, an incredible nonprofit that provides transitional housing and programs for homeless infants and children up to 17 years of age along with their young mothers.

“After the first four years, we really feel as though we’ve caught our stride where the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival is concerned,” said Jim Lloyd, Chairman for the Home of Hope Board of Directors, Sip & Swine BBQ Festival organizer and CEO of Que Crew Sponsor, Lawrenceville-based InsuranceHub. “Each subsequent year, we witness more participation from competition teams, volunteers and vendors, as well as steady growth in the size of our crowds and funds raised in support of Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter. It’s a good time in support of a great cause, and we hope that this year marks our best year to date. 2020 marks the introduction of a new component we’re really excited about, too. We’re launching a Kids Q event for aspiring chefs and pint-sized pit masters under the age of 16. It’s a really neat way for kids to play a role in a charity event designed to help other kids in their community while having fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what they create.

For the inaugural year of the Kids Q component of the Sip ‘n Swine Festival, participating children under 16 will be given a main protein – either ground beef or ground pork – to create a dish for judging. Judging of the Kids Q competition will take place immediately after the professional judging on Saturday, March 7. The competition will take place in the Kids Corral and submissions must be turned in by 3 p.m. to the judges’ tent. There is a $25 entry fee for all Kids Q teams. There will be two age groups represented during the judging – 6 to 10 and 11 to 15. All participants will be recognized.

Because admission and parking are FREE at this Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS)-sanctioned event – presented by returning Grand Champion Sponsor, Hendrick Automotive Group, the real fundraising happens in the People’s Choice tent where attendees can purchase a taster kit – which features 9 samples of BBQ chosen at random – for $10. The People's Choice BBQ Tasting takes place Saturday, March 7th from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.

Over the last four years, the event has raised $150,000 for Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, participants and attendees. Last year’s event was enjoyed by more than 15,000 attendees.  The winners of the 2019 BBQ competition were Pro Overall: Atlanta BBQ Store; Backyard Overall: Zips BBQ; Pro Chicken: Who Cares BBQ; Pro Pork: Smoke on This; Pro Pork Ribs: Swine Dining GA; Pro Brisket: Foggy Bottom BBQ; Backyard Chicken: Cool Hand Que; Backyard Pork: Grand Slam BBQ; Backyard Pork Ribs: Zips BBQ. Taking top honors in the 2019 Sip & Swine People’s Choice Competition were 1st place: Choo Choo Train Barbeque; 2nd place: Quenut BBQ; and 3rd place tie: Hot Wachula’s and The Smokehouse Mafia. Many of these talented competitors will be returning for the 2020 competition and festival.

2020 Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Event Schedule:

FRIDAY, March 6^th – Festival open to the Public 3-9 pm

Vendor Village opens with food trucks and nearly 100 craft vendors selling everything from barbecue sauces and accessories to custom artwork and handcrafted jewelry; Music on the Event Stage

SATURDAY, March 7^th – Festival Open to the Public 11 am to 6 pm

Vendor Village opens with food trucks and more than 100 craft vendors selling everything from barbecue sauces and accessories to custom artwork and handcrafted jewelry

11-12:15 PM Live Music on the Event Stage featuring School of Rock - Buford

11:30-1:30 PM People’s Choice Contest

12:30-1:45 PM Live Music on the Event Stage featuring Chainsaw Hunnie

2-3:15 PM Live Music on the Event Stage featuring Georgia Red Clay

3:30-5 PM Live Music on the Event Stage featuring Pickup Line

5:00 PM Awards Ceremony