Big Pig Jig 2026 in Vienna, GA (Nov. 6-7): Schedule, Tickets, Free BBQ Tasting and Rules

The dates come from the organizer’s Upcoming Dates page; the address and exit from its Directions page; the contest details from the 2026 team entry form. The organizer has not posted a 2026 public schedule, so every time and price below that is marked “2025” is last year’s published figure, not a promise for this year.

Everything is checked October 14, 2026, and we re-check it weekly until the weekend. We sell no tickets and have no affiliate links here. Looking for more to do that month? See our guide to Georgia fall festivals.

Big Pig Jig 2026 at a glance

Question	Answer
When?	Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026. The 2026 cook-team entry form is dated November 5-7.
Where?	Big Pig Jig Village (“BBQ City, U.S.A.”), 350 Pig Jig Blvd., Vienna, GA 31092. From I-75 take exit 109, turn west on GA 215, then right onto Pig Jig Blvd.
What is it?	The 45th Annual Georgia Barbecue Cooking Championship, run by the Dooly County Chamber of Commerce, with a craft and food festival around it
Cost?	2026: not yet announced – we check weekly. 2025: Friday $10, Saturday free until 4:30 p.m., concert $10 after; children under 12 free
Gate hours?	2026: not yet announced – we check weekly. 2025: Friday gates at 5 p.m., Saturday gates at 10 a.m.
Public BBQ tasting?	Yes, in past years: “Taste of the Jig,” a free sample plus half-pound portions for $5. 2026 time: not yet announced – we check weekly
Pets and coolers?	No pets (service animals only) and no coolers, per last year’s materials
Parking and shuttle?	A general parking area exists. Cost and shuttle: not yet announced – we check weekly

What happens at the Big Pig Jig?

Two things share one site. The first is a sanctioned barbecue contest, where cook teams from across the Southeast compete for cash prizes. The second is a fall festival: craft vendors, food trucks and barbecue plates, a kids zone, a stage with live bands, a pageant and a raffle.

The organizer’s history page says it began in 1982 with 18 teams cooking whole hogs, combined with an arts and crafts fair and a county hog show. It now draws about 100 teams cooking nearly 400 entries.

The Dooly County Chamber has not published the 2026 public schedule yet. The organizer’s Schedule of Events page still links last year’s one-page flyer (2025 schedule PDF). The table shows that pattern so you can plan around it, with the 2026 items we have confirmed marked as such.

Day	Time	What	Status
Thursday, Nov. 5	Not stated	Cook-team day (the team form is dated Nov. 5-7)	Public hours not yet announced – we check weekly
Friday, Nov. 6	Gates 5 p.m. (2025)	Food and craft vendors open; kids zone and games; ticketed evening	2025 pattern; 2026 not yet announced – we check weekly
Friday, Nov. 6	8 to 11 p.m. (2025)	Stage band: a party band played 90s and current hits last year	2026 lineup not yet announced – we check weekly
Saturday, Nov. 7	10 a.m. (2025)	Gates open, vendors and kids zone all day	2026 not yet announced – we check weekly
Saturday, Nov. 7	10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon	Judging: whole hog, then pulled pork, then ribs	Confirmed on the 2026 team form
Saturday, Nov. 7	1 p.m. (2025)	On-site finals judging	2025 pattern; 2026 not yet announced – we check weekly
Saturday, Nov. 7	2 to 4 p.m. (2025)	Taste of the Jig: free sample of championship barbecue; half pound for $5 while it lasts	2025 pattern; 2026 not yet announced – we check weekly
Saturday, Nov. 7	About 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (2025)	Raffle drawings, then the Georgia Barbecue Championship awards	2025 pattern; 2026 not yet announced – we check weekly
Saturday, Nov. 7	8 to 11 p.m. (2025)	Concert after the awards	2026 lineup not yet announced – we check weekly

We found no parade and no 5K on the organizer’s pages. The festival has run a pageant: the history page mentions the Miss Jiggy Piggy contest, and the organizer posts a 2024 Miss Big Pig Jig application among its printable forms. The 2026 pageant date is not yet announced – we check weekly. The entertainment page lists only sponsors, so the 2026 band lineup is not yet announced – we check weekly.

How does a barbecue championship work? (A first-timer’s guide)

A barbecue cook-off is a judged contest, not a buffet. Teams get a 20-by-20-foot space and bring their own meat, smokers and sauce. The official name here is the Georgia Barbecue Cooking Championship, and the 2026 entry form says it follows Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) rules. MBN sanctions three pork categories: whole hog, pulled pork and pork ribs. Each team may enter any or all of the three.

• Whole hog: an entire hog of at least 85 pounds dressed weight, cooked as one piece on one grill surface.
• Pulled pork: a bone-in portion of the hog, such as a shoulder or Boston butt, cooked as one unit.
• Ribs: spare ribs or loin ribs. Country-style ribs do not count.
• Two rounds: MBN contests use blind preliminary judging, where judges taste anonymous boxes, followed by on-site finals. The team manual for 2025 says the top three teams in each category advance to the finals.
• Side contests: the 2026 form also lists brunswick stew, barbecue sauce, chili, chicken, deviled eggs and an adult-beverage category.
• Prize money: the 2026 form lists $18,000 in cash prizes, or $21,000 counting trophies and awards, with $2,500 for the Grand Champion.

Can the public taste the championship barbecue? Yes, in past years. The 2025 team manual calls Taste of the Jig “often the only opportunity guests have to taste competition entries.”

Last year it ran 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the judges’ area, with a free sample until the barbecue ran out and a half pound for $5 (limit one per person), and WALB reported the same free-tasting-plus-$5 setup in 2023. Whether it returns in the same slot in 2026 is not yet announced – we check weekly. For exact rules, see the 2026 MBN rules (PDF).

How much does Big Pig Jig cost?

The 2026 admission price is not yet announced – we check weekly. Here is what the organizer charged last year, from the 2025 schedule PDF:

• Friday, Nov. 7, 2025: $10 (gates at 5 p.m.).
• Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025: free admission from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; concert admission was $10 after 4:30 p.m. (The team manual says 4 p.m.; the public flyer says 4:30.)
• Armbands: one-day $10 and two-day $15, which could be bought online through the “pay online” link and shown with a photo ID at the South Gate ticket booth.
• Children under 12: free.
• Food: prices come from the individual vendors and are not posted. Last year’s vendors listed barbecue plates, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, food trucks, boiled peanuts and homemade desserts. How vendors take payment is not stated.

Treat these as a rough guide only. The organizer can change prices every year, so check bigpigjig.com before you go.

How do you get to Vienna and where do you park?

Vienna is in south-central Georgia, next to I-75. The City of Vienna’s own page gives the distances: about 56 miles from Macon, 90 miles from Columbus and 132 miles from Atlanta (City of Vienna). The organizer’s directions are short: from I-75 take exit 109, turn west onto GA 215, then right onto Pig Jig Blvd. The address for a GPS is 350 Pig Jig Blvd., Vienna, GA 31092.

• Parking: the cook-team materials refer to a “general parking area,” so public parking exists. Its cost and a shuttle are not yet announced – we check weekly.
• Gates: the 2025 team manual names a South Gate with the ticket booth and a North Gate with a walk-through armband location. Which gates the public uses in 2026 is not yet announced – we check weekly.
• Accessibility: last year’s flyer says handicapped motorized carts must have a chamber-issued permit. Ask the chamber for details on mobility needs at 229-322-1596 (the Chamber’s listed mobile number).
• Questions: the contact is Rhonda Lamb, President/CEO of the Dooly County Chamber, rhonda@bigpigjig.com ({A(CONTACT, ‘contact page’)}).

Is Big Pig Jig good for kids and families?

It has a kids area, and the admission rule is friendly: children under 12 were free in 2025. Last year’s flyer lists a Kids Zone with inflatables, games, toys, a fishpond, finger puppets and a mechanical bull.

The organizer’s 2026 attraction application, for carnival rides, games, pony rides and inflatables, asks operators to run from 5 p.m. to at least 10 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, but it names no specific attractions.

• Best time with young kids: Saturday daytime, when entry was free last year and the free tasting runs mid-afternoon. The loud concerts are in the evening.
• Leave at home: coolers, and see the dog rules below.

Can you bring your dog to Big Pig Jig?

No. Last year’s flyer says “NO FIREARMS, PETS, COOLERS,” and the 2026 vendor contracts say “No Pets and NO FIREARMS are allowed on site.” The 2025 team manual makes the one exception: service animals are allowed, “due to health department regulations.” Leave pets at home.

What should you wear? Weather in middle Georgia in November

Vienna has no weather station in our dataset. The nearest one is Macon, about 56 miles away by the City of Vienna’s figure, so treat these as a guide only. NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for Macon give an average November high of 69.1°F and an average low of 42.5°F, with 3.37 inches of rain across the month and 5.5 nights at or below freezing.

That means a warm afternoon and a cold evening. Dress in layers, and carry a jacket for the evening concerts. More on the numbers: Georgia weather by month.

Where to stay and eat near Big Pig Jig

The organizer’s own lodging page lists eight places, most of them in Cordele and Unadilla. Phone numbers are as the organizer printed them. We have not checked rates, availability or distances, so call ahead; a big weekend fills small-town rooms.

• Vienna: Vienna Travel Inn, 1525 East Union Street, (229) 521-1227.
• Unadilla: Travelodge Unadilla, 101 Robert Street, (478) 627-3261; Southern Trails RV Resort, 2960 Arena Rd., (478) 627-3254.
• Cordele: Ramada Inn, (229) 273-5000; Best Western Colonial Inn, (229) 273-5420; Fairfield Inn, (229) 273-0042; Hampton Inn, (229) 273-7150; and Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club, (229) 276-1004.

For food, the festival is the plan: vendors sell plates, ribs and snacks both days, and Taste of the Jig covers a free bite of the winners. We found no official list of restaurants in Vienna, so we name none.

If you have time on the way in, the City of Vienna’s page mentions the restored 1891 Dooly County Courthouse on the downtown square and the official Georgia State Cotton Museum. Planning more fall travel? See fall in Georgia, the Georgia National Fair in Perry and Thanksgiving in Georgia.

FAQ

When is Big Pig Jig 2026?

Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, 2026, in Vienna, Georgia, per the organizer’s Upcoming Dates page. The 2026 team entry form is dated November 5-7 which covers cook-team days. Public gate hours are not yet announced; we check weekly (checked October 14, 2026).

Where is the Big Pig Jig held?

At Big Pig Jig Village, also called BBQ City, U.S.A., 350 Pig Jig Blvd., Vienna, GA 31092, in Dooly County. From I-75 take exit 109, turn west on GA 215, then turn right onto Pig Jig Blvd.

How much are Big Pig Jig tickets?

The 2026 price is not yet announced. In 2025, Friday admission was $10, Saturday was free until 4:30 p.m. with a $10 concert ticket after, and children under 12 were free. One-day armbands were $10 and two-day armbands $15.

Can the public taste the championship barbecue?

Yes, in past years. Taste of the Jig on Saturday afternoon (2 to 4 p.m. in 2025) offered a free sample of championship barbecue and half-pound portions for $5 while supplies lasted. The 2026 time is not yet announced.

Can I bring my dog or a cooler to Big Pig Jig?

No. The organizer’s 2025 flyer says no firearms, pets or coolers. Service animals are allowed under health department regulations, per the 2025 team manual.

What is the Georgia Barbecue Cooking Championship?

It is the barbecue contest at the Big Pig Jig, run by the Dooly County Chamber of Commerce. The 2026 event is the 45th annual. Teams compete in whole hog, pulled pork and ribs under Memphis Barbecue Network rules, with $18,000 in cash prizes listed on the 2026 form.

Is there a parade or a 5K at Big Pig Jig?

We found neither on the organizer’s website. The official pages describe a contest, vendors, a kids zone, a pageant and live music. If either is added for 2026 we will update this guide.

How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on October 14, 2026. Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.

Sources

• Big Pig Jig — Upcoming Dates (November 6 & 7, 2026)
• Big Pig Jig — Schedule of Events (links the 2025 flyer; 2026 not yet posted)
• Big Pig Jig — 2025 Schedule of Events flyer (PDF): hours, $10 Friday, free Saturday until 4:30, Taste of the Jig, no pets or coolers
• Big Pig Jig — 2026 Official Team Entry Form (PDF): 45th Annual, November 5-7, 2026, judging times, prize money
• Big Pig Jig — 2025 Team Manual (PDF): finals, tasting, service animals, gates
• Big Pig Jig — 2026 Food Vendor Application (PDF): address, no pets, check-in
• Big Pig Jig — 2026 Attraction Application (PDF): attraction hours, Exit 109 address
• Big Pig Jig — Directions (350 Pig Jig Blvd., Exit 109)
• Big Pig Jig — Lodging
• Big Pig Jig — History (founded 1982)
• Big Pig Jig — Contact (Dooly County Chamber)
• Memphis Barbecue Network — 2026 MBN Rules (PDF)
• City of Vienna — Big Pig Jig, distances and sights
• WALB — Big Pig Jig returns to Dooly Co. for 41st year (2023; corroboration of the free tasting)
• It’s Georgia — Georgia Weather by Month (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Macon)

Checked on October 14, 2026 against bigpigjig.com, its published PDFs and the City of Vienna. The 2026 public schedule, gate hours, prices, parking and entertainment lineup are not yet posted; we re-check this guide every week until the festival.