Jiggy with the Piggy - Better Than Ever! > City of Kannapolis | City of Kannapolis

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This year’s Jiggy with the Piggy will be better than ever! We have added new events, first class entertainment and much more. Make plans now to join us the first week of May!

The smells and sights of 80 barbeque competition teams returns to downtown Kannapolis on May 5 & 6. BBQ teams from across the U.S. are expected to compete in the competition at the North Carolina Research Campus sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.

The public can get in on the fun during the two day festival, sponsored by Smithfield, with more than 100 arts & crafts vendors, concerts, a 5K walk/run, and a People’s Choice wings and pork tasting. This year the Kannapolis Firefighter’s Association will be back bringing their cooking skills to the festival and selling barbeque to the public during the festival.

This year we have added more events for children. Children can build a racecar out of zucchini and race for prizes in the Zucchini 600. There will be a Community Children’s Concert and the popular Movies on Campus returns sponsored by the 600 Festival.

Held in downtown Kannapolis, this family-friendly event includes:

Tuesday, May 2:
6:30 p.m. Jiggy with the Piggy 5K, part of the Run Kannapolis Series. (Dress in a piggy related costume to win prizes).


Thursday, May 4:
1-5 p.m. BBQ Competition Teams Arrive
4-7 p.m. Kannapolis Farmers Market – Opening Day
Zucchini 600 Pre-build workshop @ the Farmers Market
(We provide the zucchini – get tips and help building your racecar).


Friday, May 5:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. BBQ Competition Teams Arrive
5 p.m. Festival Opens to the Public - Downtown Kannapolis
Food, Arts & Crafts, Carnival Rides, and More
7-9 p.m. People's Choice - Wings (while tickets last)
Location: N.C. Research Campus – near the Core Lab, N. Research Drive (Look for the signs and the white tent). Festival attendees can purchase blocks of ten (10) wings for $10. Proceeds benefit the Cannon Memorial YMCA to help fund local youth scholarships and programs.
7 p.m. Darrell Harwood Concert - Downtown Kannapolis
8 p.m.- Family Movie (TBA)
Location: Veterans Park
Bring a blanket/chair and enjoy this fun family movie.
Sponsored by 600 Festival Association
8:15 p.m. Little Texas Concert, Downtown Kannapolis
9:45 p.m. Fireworks


Saturday, May 6:
7 a.m. Kannapolis YMCA All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast - Admission is $5.
9 a.m. Festival Opens to the Public – Downtown Kannapolis
Food, Arts & Crafts, Carnival Rides, BBQ Demonstrations from Tuffy Stone, and More
10 -10:45a.m. - Prime Time Community Band Children's Concert - Gem Theater
Free Admission
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Kid's Zone Activities:
Including the NEW ZUCCHINI 600 race!
Pits open at 10 a.m.
12 p.m. - Zucchini 600 Races Start
Carnival Rides, Inflatables, GoProMotorplex Kids Car Displays
Noon – 2 p.m. People's Choice - Pork Tasting (while supplies last)
Location: Research Campus - Core Lab, N. Research Drive (Look for the signs and the white tent) Proceeds Benefit the Kannapolis Rotary Club. Festival attendees can purchase blocks of ten (10) samples for $10.
Noon - Gal Friday Concert
Noon - 1:30 p.m. - BBQ Competition Is Underway!
1:30 p.m. – Coconut Groove Band Concert
3:15 p.m. Joe Lasher, Jr. Concert
5 p.m. - BBQ Competition Awards Ceremony - The Laureate Center, Kannapolis City Hall & Police Headquarters
5 p.m. - Festival Ends