ELIZABETHTOWN – The fall BBQ festival season kicks off in a big way Sunday, Oct. 5 with the second annual Smithfield Cup, in which teams from North Carolina and South Carolina compete against each other in a battle of state pitmaster supremacy.
Advance tickets are now on sale for the second annual Smithfield Cup which is a festival which pits teams from the states of North Carolina and South Carolina against each other in a battle of barbecue supremacy.
The event will be staged on the grounds of award-winning Cape Fear Distillery as a select group of pitmasters from the Carolinas will prepare samplings of chopped BBQ, ribs and pork tenderloin from title sponsor Smithfield Foods, which operates the world’s largest pork processing plant in the world in nearby Tar Heel. Each team will also execute a Southern side – collard perlo and smoked baked beans — for those attending to enjoy.
“Smithfield Foods is a proud supporter of the Smithfield Cup, a celebration of Southern barbecue tradition, culinary excellence and local communities coming together,” said Andrea Tucker, Tar Heel general manager for Smithfield Foods. “The event spotlights the heart of Carolina barbecue, and we’re honored to be part of the tradition.”
Ribs, Ribs … and More Ribs From Last Year’s Competition.
The town of Elizabethtown, Texas-based food distributor Ben E. Keith, Campbell Oil, Minuteman Food Mart and Cape Fear Distillery are presenting sponsors of this unique culinary experience this coming fall.
For tickets to the Smithfield Cup and additional information log on to: www.smithfieldcup.com.
“We’re proud to celebrate one of our region’s signature industries through a culinary event that brings people together in the heart of Elizabethtown,” said Mayor Sylvia Campbell. “The Smithfield Cup offers a great opportunity to showcase our local charm, support small businesses, and give visitors a taste of the genuine southern hospitality that defines our community.”
Patrons will be provided six hearty pork samples (three from each team) and a Southern side from each team, and then be able to cast a People’s Choice vote for the best barbecue. The winning team will be awarded the Smithfield Cup and display the trophy for one year in that winning state.
The team from North Carolina was awarded the trophy in the event’s inaugural year of 2024.
The 2024 Smithfield Cup Winning North Carolina Team came from Southern Smoke in Garland.
The town of Elizabethtown, Texas-based food distributor Ben E. Keith, Campbell Oil, Minuteman Food Mart, Metcon, Warren Insurance Group and Cape Fear Distillery are presenting sponsors of this unique culinary experience.
The Smithfield Cup is scheduled for noon-4 p.m., with general admission tickets $20. A limited amount of VIP Early Bird tickets are available for $40. That VIP experience gets patrons into the event at 11 a.m. (one hour before the General Admission ticket to beat the crowds) and allows for a total of 10 meat samplings of each of the team’s barbecue offerings.
Active and retired military tickets are $15 and kids 14-and-under are admitted FREE. For advance tickets to the Smithfield Cup and additional information log on to: www.smithfieldcup.com.
Patrons will be able to cast a People’s Choice vote for the best combined barbeque taste. The winning team will be awarded the Smithfield Cup and display the trophy for one year in that winning state. The team from North Carolina was awarded the trophy in the event’s inaugural year of 2024.
The North Carolina team will be lead by captain Keith Henning of Black Powder Smokehouse, which has restaurant locations in Jamestown, Asheboro and High Point in the Triad region of North Carolina. Standing 6-foot-8, former college basketball player Henning is the tallest pitmaster in the state and is nicknamed “Big Brisket.” Henning will be joined by Jeff Groce of Raleigh-based Oink ‘N Moo by Two Brothers and local favorite Walt Munroe of Cruzers Drive-Thru in Whiteville, N.C.
“My (BBQ) style is to keep it simple and not overthink it,” said Henning, a four-time finalist in the prestigious North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Chef Showdown, including in 2025. “One of my favorite BBQ quotes I’ve heard is ‘you don’t have to dislike someone’s barbecue to like someone else’s.”’
The South Carolina captain will be Unity BBQ from Bennettsville, S.C., featuring pitmaster Allen Williams Sr. and team. John Haney of Alveron BBQ Co. in Summerville, S.C., and Marvin Ross of Peculiar Pig in Dorchester, S.C., round out the South Carolina pitmaster roster.
“Barbecue has been part of our family for decades – not just as food but as a way of life,” Williams said. “Rooted in our Southern culture, pork BBQ isn’t just what we do, it’s who we are. We’ve watched it bring families together, create space for laughter, and remind people to slow down and appreciate the ones they love.
“That’s exactly why we named our business Unity BBQ because food still has the power to unite,” added Williams. “It’s one of the last things that can truly bring people to the same table – regardless of background and create connection on common ground.”
The barbecue competition will also feature live music, a vintage car display, a Kids Zone with petting zoo, barbecue sauce and rub vendor sampling, along with a selection of local craft beer, wine and spirits from Cape Fear Distillery.
Elizabethtown celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2023. The Bladen County town is located about an hour northwest of Wilmington and 35 miles south of Fayetteville and 20 minutes from Lumberton.
The Smithfield Cup is operated by Tarheel Festivals, which also staged the 5th annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival over Labor Day weekend in the Village of Pinehurst and the upcoming 7th annual Festival D’Avion on Oct. 25 at the Moore County Airport.