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If you love barbecue, I’ve got a great barbecue festival for you! Sip & Swine BBQ Festival is returning to Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in the greater Atlanta area. This will be happening on March 6 and 7, 2026. Its mission is to showcase and promote barbecue competition in a fun filled festival. And admission is free and so is parking!
Competition Teams
There will be Pro Competition Teams. The top prize is $2,500. Pro Teams will also compete on Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket with the top prize in each going for $150.
The other competitive team is the Backyard Team. Their Grand Championship will win $750. They will compete on Chicken and Ribs with the top prize for these being $500.
People’s Choice Award
And you can be the judge in the People’s Choice BBQ Award. You’ll need to purchase a People’s Choice Award Taster Kit for $12. It will feature a random sample of 0 different BBQ samples from both the Pro and Backyard Teams. This is a “while supplies last” event so be sure to be early.
All items in the kit will be numbered. You vote by writing down the number of your favorite sample. The People’s Choice Award has a $100 Prize.
KidsQ Event
Young chefs can compete in the KidsQ. There are two age groups – ages 5 to 10 and ages 11 to 15.
Friday
On Friday, competition teams will be setting up their stations and preparing for their grilling, smoking and cooking on Saturday.
The gates will open at 8 pm on Friday and there will be music from their incredible lineup of local and regional performers. The performers for this night will be announced as the festival gets closer.
Saturday
On Saturday morning, entertaining music will fill the air along with the heavenly aromas coming from the smokers. Competition teams will be busy, preparing their barbecue. The submissions will be completed, judged and awards will end the festival.
Entertainment Schedule
- 11 am – 1:30 pm – The Midland Station Band
- 11:30 am – 1:30 pm – People’s Choice Event
- 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm – The Jonathon Ingram Band
- 2 pm – 3:15 pm – Under The Wheel
- 3:30 pm – 5 pm – Dock Rock Radio
- 5 pm – Awards Ceremony
- 6 pm – Event Ends
Vendor Village
The Sip & Swine BBQ Festival will feature a large Vendor Village. You’ll have a lot of options when it comes to food. Local restaurants and food trucks will be there with delicious dishes, snacks and desserts. Vendors will be offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Merchandise vendors and arts & crafts vendors will also be there showcasing their unique creations.
All of the proceeds from this festival will be donated to Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter.
Barbecue
If you like barbecue – and that would include most of us – and would like to learn more about preparing it, try these cookbooks. And use our links to get them at discounted prices.
- 365 Great Barbecue Grilling Recipes by Lonnie Gandara
- Best Ribs Ever – 100 Killer Recipes by Steven Raichler
- Best of the Best From Georgia Cookbook
Visiting Lawrenceville
If you’d like to visit Lawrenceville for the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival, you should consider the following hotels. These hotels can be booked for under $100 a night. This price includes fees and taxes which is a really great deal. These hotels all received a 6, 7, 8 or 9 ratings on a 1 to 10 scale.
- Budgetel Inn & Suites Atlanta: $63
- Bhagat Hotels Atlanta BW Signature Collection: $64
- Rodeway Inn Norcross: $69
- Masters Inn Atlanta Doraville at I-85: $69
- Super 8 by Wyndham Suwanee: $70
- Araamde Inn Norcross: $73
- Hauca Inn & Suites: $74
- Hampton Inn Peachtree Corners Norcross: $75
- Brick Lodge Atlanta Norcross: $76
- Studio 6 Tucker, GA – Atlanta Norcross: $78
- Studio 6 Duluth, GA New Gas South District: $79
- Baymont by Wyndham Norcross Atlanta: $82
- Red Roof Inn Atlanta Norcross: $82
- Studio 6 Suites Norcross GA: $85
- Travel Inn Buford Mall of Georgia: $86
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Norcross: $86
- Extended Stay America Select Suites Atlanta Alpharetta: $89
- Spark by Hilton Alpharetta: $89
- Quality Inn Duluth – Atlanta Duluth: $91
- Wyndham Garden Duluth: $91
- Quality Inn Atlanta Northlake: $91
- Extended Stay America Select Suites – Atlanta – Gwinnett Place: $92
- Extended Stay America Suites Atlanta Norcross: $93
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Alpharetta: $93
- Hyatt Place Atlanta – Alpharetta: $93
- Sonesta Simply Suites Atlanta Gwinnett Place: $94
- Woodspring Suites near Mall of Georgia: $95
- Guest Inn & Suites: $95
- Sonesta Select Atlanta Norcross: $96
- Studio 6 Duluth, GA – Atlanta Gwinnett Place: $98