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.
The Scoop
Click on a tab below for more information on each subject.
GENERAL INFO
Want to know what to expect before you get here? Download our printable guide for this event! Plus, A few notes to make your visit a smooth one:
- Lawn chairs and/or blankets are welcome at the outdoor amphitheater.
- Outside food and beverages are prohibited. Food and beverage vendors will be on-site.
- Attendees must be age 21+ to consume alcohol. An ID and wristband ($1) will be required.
- Dogs are allowed on leash. Please carry disposable bags to pick up any pet droppings.
- Smoking, skateboards, and bicycles are not allowed at this event.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
6 p.m. | Festival Opens (Anything Butt Competition)*
6 p.m. | Kids Zone Opens
6 p.m. | Live Music by TBD
9 p.m. | Festival Closes
*Note: Food is served only while supplies last.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020
11 a.m. | Festival Opens (BBQ Cook-Off)*
11 a.m. | Kids Zone Opens
11:30 a.m. | Live Music by TBD
2:30 p.m. | Winners Announced & Pint Sales Open
3 p.m. | Festival Closes
*Note: Food is served only while supplies last.
The Blood Connection will be on-site from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. All donors will receive a Walmart Gift Card.
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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.
KIDS ZONE
The Kids Zone is open Friday and Saturday. All activities are FREE!
Inflatable Rides
Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
Sidewalk Chalk
Games
Milk Bottle Toss hosted by Boy Scouts Pack 715 
Scavenger Hunt hosted by Sprouts Farmers Market (Saturday only) 
Cotton Candy and Fun by Take Heart Church 
Trivia and Prize Wheel by Greenville Library, Mauldin Branch (Saturday only)
SPONSORS AND VENDORS
Thank you to our 2019 sponsors and vendors:
Stage Sponsor | Great Southern Homes
With a focus on style, quality and affordability, it’s no surprise that Great Southern Homes has become one of South Carolina’s leading homebuilders. They’ve built over 5,000 homes in two decades of homebuilding and understand the importance of large family rooms, owner’s suites with garden tub retreats, open floor plans for fabulous entertaining, spacious kitchens with plenty of storage, and a variety of bedroom layouts to suit your lifestyle and budget. At Great Southern Homes, dream homes are standard.
The Blood Connection will be on-site from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. All donors will receive a Walmart Gift Card. Sign up today!
Other vendors
- AJ’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice
- Chocolate Artworks
- Matthew Darling’s Boiled Peanuts
- Young’s Backyard BBQ Sauce
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. Volunteers who work receive a free dinner plate Friday night or a free tasting pass on Saturday.
Each shift is two and a half hours, but feel free to sign up for multiple shifts.
Just a few rules/regulations:
- Volunteers must check-in with our volunteer coordinator 10-15 minutes prior to shifts.
- Volunteers must be high school age or older. Middle school students may partner with a parent/adult to volunteer.
- Volunteers should bring a can-do attitude and some room for ‘cue in their bellies.
Want to volunteer? Sign up today! — Coming soon!
TEAM REGISTRATION
EVENT DATE: Friday, September 18 & Saturday, September 19, 2020
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 $125 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.
REGISTRATION FOR 2020
The registration period will be open from April 1 – April 30, 2020. Cookers will be notified of their acceptance on May 8, 2020.
HOW TO APPLY
Review the Rules & Policies form below, then download and complete the registration packet. As soon as you’re ready, submit it along with the $125 registration fee (check, cash or money order ONLY please) to Mary Jane Parks at [email protected] or PO Box 249, Mauldin, SC 29662.
Rules & Policies | Registration Packet
2020 Prizes
Check out our prizes for 2020:
- 1st – $3,000
- 2nd – $2,000
- 3rd – $1,500
- 4th – $1,000
- 5th – $500
- Anything Butt – Free 2021 Registration
- People’s Choice – Free 2021 Registration