Another Barbecue Cookoff in Apex, NC

A banner high over the historic downtown area welcomes visitors.

The Peak City Pigfest continues to attract top cooking teams, and when they compete you can find a room full of judges. With “Peak City” in the cookoff’s title, few people have to ask where it’s being held because Apex, NC, is known for being “The Peak of Good Living.” 

Live music plays continually during the festival.

Barbecue Traditions

The nickname derives from 1867 when a train depot was built on the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad. Just seven years later, the town (never a city as implied by the contest’s name) was incorporated and began waiting for its first barbecue cookoff. Although historical records shed little light on how barbecue traditions developed in Apex, we do know that the Peak City Pigfest now celebrates its 10th year of bringing teams together to compete. 

An early crowd on Saturday morning enjoys listening to music and eating food sold at the festival.

Prize Money

For a total of $12,000 in prize money, 35 teams competed, which was five more than at the cookout last year. The event, which is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, is organized by the Apex Sunrise Rotary Club, and proceeds from the event have provided $100,000 to local charities. 

Teams set up near the center of the historic downtown area.

Festival Activities

During the weekend, activities including a beer garden, live music, food trucks, and a kids' play zone make the event popular with the local community. The festival typically brings several thousand visitors to the downtown area. 

Food vendors started early and stayed late.

Cookoff Judging

For the event, out-of-state judges often attend, but several were as far away as Indiana and Florida. Many have judged extensively, and one judge was participating in his 100th cookoff. However, contests are always welcoming new judges, and the judge that I sat next to was at just her second cookoff. Judges usually wear an assortment of barbecue-related apparel. The best T-shirt worn by a judge says: “A chicken, pig, and cow walk into a KCBS contest…. The End.” 

Judges chat informally before their meeting begins. 

Next Year

The contest continues to be a favorite of the teams, judges, and local community. With a well-established tradition of being an outstanding festival and cookoff for 10 years, the Peak City Pigfest will be where the barbecue community will be next summer.