The City of Kennesaw and Kennesaw Parks & Recreation are bringing big country energy to the 2026 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival on Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday night’s lineup features platinum-selling singer-songwriter Chayce Beckham headlining at 8 p.m., with support from ACM Award-winning duo Tigirlily Gold at 6 p.m. The artists will take the stage Saturday, Oct. 17, at the United Bankshares Amphitheater at Depot Park as part of the festival’s two-day celebration of barbecue, live music and family fun.
Rising country star Chayce Beckham won American Idol performing his original songs, becoming the first contestant to win the competition with an original song. Beckham continues to write his own music and forge his own path as a country artist, earning his first No. 1 country radio hit with the platinum-certified single “23.” A California native shaped by tough times and influenced by country, rock, hip-hop and beyond, Beckham developed his signature heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting after a difficult season in his life. His warm, raspy vocals and determined spirit won over audiences during the show’s 19th season. With more than 1.2 billion global on-demand streams, “23” debuted at No. 1 on both the iTunes All Genre and Country Singles charts and led to his debut album, Bad for Me. Beckham has been named a next-big-thing and artist-to-watch by the Grand Ole Opry, CMT, Amazon Music, MusicRow and others. He continues to tour while preparing to release new music, including “Dirt Floor,” a neo-Western-inspired summer love song.
Sisters Kendra Olson and Krista Slaubaugh have been making music together since childhood and officially formed Tigirlily Gold as teenagers. They built a loyal following in their home state of North Dakota before moving to Nashville, where they honed their craft by performing four-hour sets three to four nights a week at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row on Lower Broadway. Their debut full-length album, Blonde, was released in 2024 and features the Top 40 radio single “Shoot Tequila,” along with the follow-up Top 30 hit “I Tried a Ring On.” Tigirlily Gold has received two CMT Award nominations and two People’s Choice Country Award nominations and won the 2024 ACM Award for New Duo of the Year. The duo also performed “I Tried a Ring On” during the ACM Awards broadcast.
New this year, the festival will kick off Friday night with Kennesaw’s Got Country, a community talent showcase highlighting local and regional musicians. Solo artists, duos and full bands performing country music are invited to apply. Performers may present original music or cover songs, and both acoustic and amplified performances are welcome. Applications are now open online, giving aspiring performers the opportunity to take the stage during one of Kennesaw’s largest annual events.
Returning for its second year, the BBQ Competition Tasting Experience gives festivalgoers the opportunity to sample award-winning barbecue from competing BBQ teams.
Held Saturday, Oct. 17, from noon to 3 p.m., ticket holders will enjoy tasting portions from each participating team, including a barbecue sample, an Anything Peach creation and a Sweet Baby Ray’s wing entry. Cash awards will be presented to the top three cook teams and the People’s Choice winner. Space is limited, and competitor applications are now available at pigsandpeaches.com. Tickets for the Tasting Experience will also be available for purchase at pigsandpeaches.com.
Families will find even more to enjoy at this year’s Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival with the addition of an expanded Kids Zone. Open Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the family-friendly area will feature interactive activities, a petting zoo and a Kids Market, where young entrepreneurs will showcase and sell their own handmade products and creations.
Now celebrating its 26th year, the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival has become a signature fall tradition for food lovers, music fans and craft beer enthusiasts. With dozens of vendors, exhibitors and barbecue teams, the event delivers two full days of live entertainment, cold drinks and big flavor.
The 2026 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival is presented by Williams Elleby Howard & Easter and Ford of Kennesaw.
For more information, visit pigsandpeaches.com or call Kennesaw Parks & Recreation at 770-422-9714.
