The History
Produced by the City of Mauldin, the annual festival is a showcase of the heritage of our community, from its food to its music.
The Mauldin BBQ Cook-off features more than 20 cookers from all over the Southeast, competing to bring the best BBQ to Mauldin. The festival opens Friday night with our Anything Butt competition, where Participating Cookers serve anything BUTT their BBQ to pique your tastebuds. Sliders, grilled chicken, smoked cobbler—the only way to know what’s cooking is to come try it for yourself.
Saturday features the main event, a BBQ Cook-off competition with a panel of certified BBQ Tasters from the South Carolina Barbeque Association. The public will also have a chance to cast their vote for the best BBQ and the winner of the People’s Choice Award.
Paired with live music and family fun, this can’t-miss festival is the perfect pig-out.
VIEW THE 2025 BBQ MAP HERE!
The Scoop
GENERAL INFO
THE FOOD
MUSIC
Music and BBQ go together like…well, music and BBQ. All performances are free of charge and will be held in the Mauldin Cultural Center’s Outdoor Amphitheater right on the festival grounds. Bring your lawn chair and blankets to relax, digest, and enjoy the music! Remember — outside food and beverages are prohibited, and this is a smoke-free event.
Trey Duncan | Friday, September 12 | 6 – 9 p.m.
“From rocking stages across the southeast to singing praises from the choir loft, Trey Duncan has flirted with just about everything music offers. Trey is an independent Country Rock’n’Soul artist based out of Greenville, SC, performing professionally since 2019. He marries his Chris Stapleton-esque vocals with a light-hearted smile and versatile guitar chops. Trey comes from a musical family and has always known music would play an important role in his life. His father taught him how to play guitar and ignited a love for rock and roll, while his mother (the singer in the family) fostered an appreciation for country music and honest and transparent songwriting. He also owes a debt of gratitude to growing up singing and playing in church, where he attributes the “soul” with which he sings.”
Cody Gentry and Pine Mountain | Saturday, September 13 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Born and raised in Upstate SC, the first song Cody Gentry ever learned the lyrics to was “Please Don’t Bury Me” by John Prine. From there, Cody began writing and performing his songs influenced by the towering country and folk performers of times past, such as Guy Clark, Ted Hawkins, and Townes Van Zandt. His affection for history through storytelling, along with the writings of Flannery O’Connor, David Joy, and Larry Brown, has blended with his unique sound to create a wholly original illustration of true Americana. He has shared the stage with many bands and individuals, including the songwriting legend and musical mentor David Childers. When asked what kind of music he plays, Cody cheekily breaks into Roger Miller’s classic tune: “Funny, I don’t fit. Where have all the average people gone?”
BURNT END ZONE
Inflatable Football Toss Game • Cooling Fans • Tailgating Games
The Burnt End Zone is open Friday and Saturday
All activities are FREE!
BACKYARD OASIS
Firepits • Hammock • Relaxation Area
The Backyard O-Ace-Is is open Friday and Saturday
All activities are FREE!
KIDS ZONE
Face Painting • Balloon Twisting • Magician • Inflatables • Mechanical Bull
The Kids Zone is open Friday and Saturday
All activities are free, EXCEPT for the Mechanical Bull!
Mechanical Bull: 3 Tickets = 1 Ride
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor:
Speciality Zone Sponsors:
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Supporting Sponsors:
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Direct Auto Insurance
Garrett’s Golf Cars
Harrison’s Workwear
IPS Packaging
LocaliQ/Greenville News
Presort Plus
Renewal by Andersen
Swamp Rabbit Moving & Storage
2025 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
This weekend event brings more than 2,000 attendees to the Mauldin Outdoor Amphitheater. Depending on your sponsorship level, you could be earning $40K+ in media presence, brand recognition at events, and complimentary tasting tickets by sponsoring the Sooie. BBQ Cook-off.
Interested? Drop us a line at [email protected] or call us at 864.335.4862.
FOOD & MARKET VENDORS
Blood Drive on Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Donate blood and receive a $40 e-gift card! Pre-register here.
VOLUNTEER
We have plenty of opportunities for you or your group to volunteer at this year’s BBQ Cook-Off. Volunteers are needed both Friday and Saturday. Just a few rules/regulations:
- Each date has one shift – Please sign up for only one position as you can only do one job at a time. If you want to volunteer for both Friday and Saturday, make sure to sign up for your desired position both dates.
- Volunteers must be high school age or older. Some positions are only for those age 16+ or 21+. Middle school students may partner with a parent/adult to volunteer.
- Please read the position descriptions to ensure you are comfortable with the position requirements (ie: operating iPad, cash handling, etc.)
Volunteers will receive a bbq volunteer t-shirt to wear and 10 tasting tickets each!
2025 TEAM REGISTRATION
Only 30 BBQ Team slots are open this year. The event is sanctioned, and judged by the SC BBQ Association, and will award cash prizes to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th places. Teams are required to participate in Friday’s “Anything Butt” competition and showcase their non-BBQ skills (as well as give our lovely guests something to chow down on). A $200 registration fee is REQUIRED and due for each team at the time of application. The fee is non-refundable for accepted Teams. The City of Mauldin reserves the right to reject any registration. If for some reason your registration is denied, you will receive a full refund. If for some reason you cancel after your registration has been received, accepted, and processed, you will be issued a refund if and only if the Event Coordinators can fill the empty slot with another cook team.
2025 Cooker Packet – Mauldin BBQ
Please email Caitlyn Pendleton at [email protected] for information.
2025 Prizes
Check out our prizes for 2025:
- 1st – $2,500
- 2nd – $2,000
- 3rd – $1,500
- 4th – $1,000
- 5th – $500
- Anything Butt – Free 2026 Registration
- People’s Choice – Free 2026 Registration
2025 WINNERS
Full scores & team photos are available on the South Carolina Barbeque Association’s website
BBQ COOK-OFF | 1ST PLACE: Monkey Bottom Boys
BBQ COOK-OFF | 2ND PLACE: PaPa D’s BBQ
BBQ COOK-OFF | 3RD PLACE: Piggy Fins BBQ
BBQ COOK-OFF | 4TH PLACE: Tail-Gater Hater
BBQ COOK-OFF | 5TH PLACE: High on the Hog
ANYTHING BUTT | SAVORY: Triple Jacks BBQ
ANYTHING BUTT | SWEET: Men at Work BBQ
GABE HUNTER PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: The BBQ Den
RIBS | 1ST PLACE: High on the Hog
RIBS | 2ND PLACE: Men at Work BBQ
RIBS | 3RD PLACE: Monkey Bottom Boys
RIBS | 4TH PLACE: Tail-Gater Hater
TONY LINDSEY 1ST PLACE BRISKET AWARD: Smoke by Day, Fire by Night
BRISKET | 2ND PLACE: JW Cooks