SOUTH CAROLINA BBQ SHAG FESTIVAL RETURNS TO HEMINGWAY FOR 37TH YEAR

The 37th annual celebration of Carolina beach music, the shag, and barbecue returns to Hemingway, SC on April 8 – 10, 2027 at the town's recreation fields and park. The three-day festivities include a carnival, car show, food trucks, a shag contest, live music, and the festival's headline event, the annual Woody Curtis BBQ Cook-Off.

"We are excited to welcome the Pee Dee and Waccamaw region back to our small-town next spring," said festival chairperson John Michael Collins. "It's been a Carolina tradition spanning across five decades, and I am proud to continue the legacy of this great festival."

For one week each year, the small town of Hemingway is transformed into a destination for lovers of beach music and barbecue alike. Hemingway is unofficially recognized as the "BBQ Capital of the World," not only because of its annual festival, but because of landmark barbecue restaurants including Scott's BBQ and Big D's Bar-B-Que.

Collins, who has also served as Hemingway's mayor since 2019, notes that the festival helps drive economic development in town. "People come from not just the Hemingway-Johnsonville area, but from Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia, and other major markets, and they're spending money at our local restaurants and shops. That makes me proud as we continue to grow and put Hemingway on the map. During last year's festival, we had a group of friends from Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Austria, and Hungary attend the festival while they were visiting South Carolina for a conference."

The festival has also become a hotspot for celebrity guests. It annually hosts legendary beach music DJ Dan E. Lockemy and WPDE meteorologist Ed Piotrowski. Past special guests have included WWE Hall of Fame inductee Ric Flair and Carolina beach music legends such as The Tams, Jim Quick & Coastline, and Band of Oz. At the 2026 festival, Cocky, the University of South Carolina's mascot and newest inductee into the Mascot Hall of Fame, brought the party vibes and became a fan favorite with the kids.

"Ever since the festival returned following our two-year hiatus during COVID, everyone wants to be part of it, and we've seen tremendous community support — support we haven't seen in over a decade," said Collins. “Recent festivals have drawn record participation in both the BBQ cook-off and the annual car show hosted by Palmetto Cruisers.”

Admission to the South Carolina BBQ Shag Festival is always free. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a great weekend of barbecue, beach music, and fun. Over 10,000 people attend the festival annually, and organizers invite the public to join them next spring as the beach music community returns to Hemingway.

More information regarding headlining bands, cook-off and vendor applications, and additional events leading up to the festival will be announced soon. Visit scbbqshagfestival.com or follow the festival's Facebook and Instagram pages (@scbbqshagfestival) for updates.

The South Carolina BBQ & Shag Festival is an annual celebration of Carolina barbecue, shag dance, and beach music, now marking its 37th year as a signature tradition in the Pee Dee/Waccamaw region. True to its tagline, "A Carolina Tradition," the festival continues to honor the roots of Southern hospitality while bringing generations of fans together for a shared love of good food, good music, and good company.

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