44th annual BBQ Fest on the Neuse aims to break Guinness World Record
Kinston’s biggest festival is taking on its biggest challenge yet: setting a Guinness World Record.
The annual BBQ Fest on the Neuse will attempt to break the world record for the most barbecue sandwiches sold in an eight-hour period during this year’s festivities. The current record to beat is 2,500 sandwiches.
“Over the last several years, the BBQ Fest on the Neuse has grown tremendously, and this year we are excited to welcome over 40,000 folks to Downtown Kinston,” said Waylon Adams, BBQ Fest Chair. “We have the Guinness Book of World Records attending this year’s festival in our attempt to break the world record of number of BBQ sandwiches sold. The current record is just over 2,400, and our plan is to surpass this with ease.”
The official record attempt will take place under the Chop Tent beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3rd, where attendees can purchase as many sandwiches as they can and become part of the historic tally. Sales will be counted and verified by a Guinness World Record official.
“We’re stacking sandwiches and stacking up stats,” Adams said. “Let’s show the world how it’s done in Kinston!”
Jan Parson, President of the BBQ Fest on the Neuse, said the moment marks a major milestone in the festival’s history.
“Yes… Big NEWS… we are going for the Guinness Book of World Records!” Parson said. “When I first began directing the BBQ Fest on the Neuse, I could never have imagined that nineteen years later we would be going for a world record. Our team, volunteers, and community have grown the festival from 5,000 attendees in 2006 to approximately 40,000 attendees in 2025. We are not just making BBQ—we are making history!”
“Each and every sandwich sold will make a difference,” she added. “Visit Kinston for the BBQ Fest on the Neuse and make history!”
Tammy Kelly, Chair of the Wil King Hog Happenin’ and BBQ Fest board member, said the festival’s growth has been extraordinary.
“I am super excited about this year's BBQ Fest on the Neuse and especially the Whole Hog Cook Off Competition!” Kelly said. “I’ve seen this competition grow from 25 teams to over 100 with a waiting list. For several years we’ve boasted the largest number of cook team competitors of any Whole Hog event in the world—so why not make it official?”
Cook teams from across North Carolina and beyond—including South Carolina and Virginia—are expected to compete.
“We’ve been breaking records for years and feel confident we can break this one,” Kelly said. “But we need everyone’s help. And how hard is it really to enjoy some delicious BBQ cooked by State Champions?”
Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievements, will oversee the event’s attempt. Established in the 1950s to settle pub debates, Guinness World Records has grown into a globally recognized institution tracking everything from extreme sports to culinary feats.
The 44th annual BBQ Fest on the Neuse has become one of North Carolina’s largest and most anticipated events. Anchored by the whole hog cook-off sanctioned by the North Carolina Pork Council, the event will also include Nashville recording artist Runaway June on Friday, May 2nd at 8:30pm. During the two-day festival, downtown Kinston will boast over 100 vendors featuring arts and crafts, food and drinks, and more. Kids will also enjoy a carnival and family-friendly activities throughout downtown Kinston.
For more information on this year’s festival and how to join the record-breaking effort, visit https://kinstonbbq.com/.
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