2006 City of Vienna, "Big Pig Jig"

Big Pig Jig

BIG PIG JIG was born in Vienna, Georgia, when a group of self-professed gourmets made wagers on who among them could cook the most succulent pig! That year, 1982, these creative people recommended combining a barbecue cooking competition with an established and well-attended arts and crafts fair and the county's annual livestock association hog show. Twenty teams competed in 1982, cooking whole hogs only, at BIG PIG JIG, and $1000 in prize money was awarded to the top seven contenders.

Once the smoke cleared, the crafters packed and headed home, and the hogs were "gone to market," the community recognized it had a winning combination. The fall setting was ideal, so an October festival was born. A new site located in Vienna was purchased and developed for the ever-increasing number of participants.

The success of the festival was demonstrated in 1991 when prize money was increased to $10,000.00.

Twenty-four years after the idea took shape, the contest drew 133 teams cooking over 400 entries of hogs, shoulders, ribs, kettles of Brunswick stew, barbecue sauce, and barbecued chicken. The event required more than 300 judges, and 300 volunteers. The festival has won numerous awards and been touted by top publications of tourism and events.

Often imitated yet not duplicated, BIG PIG JIG remains the southeasts largest and Georgia's oldest and OFFICIAL barbecue cooking contest.