Get ready to stoke those smokers, Gwinnett! The 10^th annual Sip & Swine BBQ Festival is set to return to Coolray Field on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, 2025. As in years past, 100% of the proceeds from this two-day Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned event will benefit Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter – a local charity devoted to the well-being of homeless children and their young mothers. And, once again, the dedicated team at Hendrick Automotive Group will serve as the event’s Grand Champion Sponsor. To mark the advent of its 10^th year as a much-anticipated, family-friendly event, Sip & Swine organizers have lined up a great roster of bands, a creative group of craft vendors, and a talented list of youth, amateur and professional BBQ teams to wow judges and attendees alike with their skills on the smoker. Attendees on both days will enjoy FREE PARKING and FREE ADMISSION. 

“When we launched Sip & Swine in 2015, we did so with two goals in mind,” said Jim Lloyd, former Chairman of the Board of Directors at Home of Hope, organizer of the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival, and Executive Director of Lawrenceville-based InsuranceHub Leavitt Agency. “We sought to create a fun environment where BBQ chefs of all skill levels could seek to ‘smoke’ their competition, and we made Home of Hope the heart of our mission. To date, we’ve raised $900,000 to support the nonprofit’s purpose of serving as the next step toward independence for children and their young moms experiencing homelessness. We are beyond proud of our role in helping them take their residents from homeless to hopeful to a home of their own. As an organic outcome of this dedication to those two purposes, we’ve become a treasured event for countless Metro Atlanta neighbors. In 2015, Sip & Swine became a KCBS-sanctioned event, and it just keeps getting bigger with each passing year as more and more people discover one of the best BBQ festivals Georgia has to offer.  I, for one, am excited to see what the NEXT 10 years will bring!”

The 2025 Sip & Swine BBQ Festival will showcase the talents of 100 competition teams, representing a mix of both Backyard and Pro challengers from all over the country. Categories include Chicken, Pork, Ribs, and Brisket for the Pro Teams. Prizes range from $100 for People’s Choice to $500 for the Backyard Grand Champion to $2500 for the Professional Grand Champion. The popular KidQ competition returns for the 6^th year – as aspiring chefs aged 6-15 show off their culinary skills. To entertain crowds, the festival will also feature live music on the main stage and 120 food and craft vendors presenting local art, clothing, home goods, and more. 

Proceeds from competition fees, vendors fees, raffle ticket sales, and the purchase of People’s Choice Taster Kits support Home of Hope’s mission to strengthen children, youth, and families in crisis by providing a broad array of counseling and supportive services in a safe and nurturing environment. People’s Choice Taster Kits can be purchased for just $12 each in the People’s Choice Tent on Saturday, March 2. Between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., People’s Choice participants will get to sample from nine randomly selected competitors while supplies last and share their pick for their personal favorite.  

2025 Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Event Schedule:

Music will fill the air to kick off the event as 80 craft and 40 food vendors sell their goods and BBQ competition teams set up from 3 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 7. 

The schedule for the Sip & Swine Festival on Saturday, March 8, is:

10 AM – Event opens to the public – including food, beer, and craft vendors; Kids Zone with face painting, gem mining, teddy bear stuffing, bounce house, and more; activities like caricatures, axe throwing, and mechanical bull riding; and a rockin’ lineup of musicians.

11 AM-12:15 PM – The Midland Station Band performs

11:30 AM-1:30 PM – People’s Choice BBQ Tasting 

12:30-1:45 PM – The Jonathan Ingram Band performs 

2-3:15 PM – Under The Wheel performs 

3:30-5 PM – Dock Rock Radio performs

5 PM – BBQ awards ceremony

6 PM – Event ends

“The heart and soul behind Sip & Swine BBQ Festival is Jim and Cindy Lloyd,” said Maureen Kornowa, CEO of Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter. “They have poured themselves into creating a famous, fun, family-friendly event for a great cause.  This year, we will hit the million-dollar mark in funds raised at Sip & Swine for Home of Hope, and it is only with their dedication, heart, and sincere support for this mission that we have reached this milestone.  To the team at Jim’s office, sponsors, volunteers, and Home of Hope staff…a heartfelt THANK YOU!  To Jim and Cindy Lloyd, you are angels among men, living your legacy and leading the way in service to children and families in need.  You are living the kindness we seek in others, and you walk in HIS name with your service.” 

Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville. For additional information about the event or to sign on as a sponsor or volunteer, please visit www.sipandswine.com. Several spots remain for the KidsQ competition for a $25 entry fee. To learn more about Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter or make a direct donation online, please visit www.homeofhopegcs.org.