Newport Pig Cookin Contest

Newport Pig Cookin Contest The USA's Largest All Volunteer, Non-Profit, Whole Hog BBQ Pig Cookin', invites you to join us for two days of food, fun and springtime celebrations!

A Brief History of the Newport Pig Cooking Contest

The Newport Pig Cookin’ got it’s start in 1978 when Doris Oglesby, the Director of the Newport Developmental Center, a school for physically and mentally challenged children, called Mayor Derryl Garner to help her raise funds for furniture for a new addition being added to the school

Mayor Garner contacted 18 various churches and organizations i

n the Newport area requesting their ideas to help raise the needed money. As luck would have it, some Newport men had cooked in a pig cooking contest that previous weekend in Jacksonville, NC. From that group, Larry Howard and Lionel Garner contacted Mayor Garner with the thought that Newport could have a contest too. It was decided to try it with the goal of cooking 15 pigs to raise the $5,000 that was needed. The contest was held in early 1979 and with donations and help from just about everyone in town plus our good neighbors from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, 42 pigs were cooked and $15,000 was donated to the Developmental Center. Larry Howard was the first person in charge of the Newport Pig Cookin’ with Thorton Pringle, Ann Howard and Jim Ferrell heading it up consecutively. In 1985 we were incorporated with Jim Ferrell as President. The organization has grown over the years and now has it’s own building filled with warmers, pots and pans and many needed items along with a ticket booth, canteens and a souvenir trailer, much of it being donated by various businesses and groups. Currently heading up this amazing group of people is our president of many years, Jim Bristle. The recipients of our grants, over the years, have included various sports teams, school booster groups, churches, scout groups and other non-profit organizations. We are strictly a volunteer organization and welcome anyone interested in becoming a member of this great team. It takes many dedicated members to be able to accomplish all that we do. We are proud of the history of the Newport Pig Cookin’, “The Largest Non-Profit Whole Hog Contest “ in the USA, so come out and show your support and join a great group of people.

05/03/2026
04/17/2026

This scene from the Newport Pig Cookin’ today… feels like a little piece of everything that makes North Carolina what it is.

Not polished. Not planned. Just real.

Folks from all walks of life, standing shoulder to shoulder, giving their time like it’s second nature. No fanfare… just a quiet kind of pride in being part of something that helps somebody else.

There’s laughter in the line. A little music drifting through. Somebody smiling while they hand you a plate like they’ve been doing it their whole life. 🎶

And for a moment, it all slows down.

Because it ain’t just about the food.

It’s about people.

And places like this remind you… we’ve still got something worth holding on to.

04/08/2026

It’s almost time.

The Newport Pig Cookin Contest returns this weekend, kicking off Friday and bringing a full weekend of food, music, and tradition to town.

04/07/2026
04/04/2025

Friday, April 4, 2025 6:00 pm: Opening Ceremony with Mayor Dennis Barber 6:30 pm-11:00 pm: Rides and Crafts 7:00 pm: Chief Cook Meeting (Pigs delivered after cook’s meeting) 6:30 pm – 10 pm: The Embers with Chris Woolard Saturday, … Event Schedule Read More »

03/06/2025

Town of Newport is seeking licensed contractors to consider bidding on a unique opportunity in Newport. The Town Hall staff have outgrown their space and are in need of new office space in our current location. The bid package can been seen at www.newportnc.gov BIDS. Closing date is 11:00am on April 5th, 2025.

03/20/2024

Get Ready for The Newport Pig Cookin Contest. USA’s largest all volunteer, Non-Profit, Whole Hog Barbacue Pig Cookin. They invite you to join them for a day with food, fun & Spring Time Celebrations.
The I-42 Band performs on stage on Friday April 5th from 6:30-10:00 pm.
See schedule of events at:
Newportpigcooking.com
The I-42 Bands website:
https://i42band.com


Address

Howard Boulevard
Newport, NC
28570

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