The City of Kennesaw and Kennesaw Parks & Recreation are bringing big country energy to the 2026 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival on Friday, October 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday night’s lineup features platinum-selling singer-songwriter Chayce Beckham headlining at 8 p.m. with support from the ACM Award-winning duo Tigirlily Gold at 6 p.m. The artists will take the stage on Saturday, October 17, at the United Bankshares Amphitheater at Depot Park as part of the festival’s two-day celebration of barbecue, live music, and family fun.

Rising country star Chayce Beckham won American Idol singing his own songs and was the first to win singing an original song. Beckham is continuing to write his own music and chart his own path as a country artist, scoring his first #1 at country radio with the platinum hit single “23.” A California native schooled on tough times and a mix of country, rock, hip hop and beyond, the fiery songwriter with his own creative compass started a habit of heart-on-his-sleeve lyricism after a hard season of life left him feeling empty. Yet, his warm rough rasp and steadfast drive charmed the nation on Idol’s 19th season. With more than 1.2 billion global on-demand streams and counting, the bluesy and brutally honest anthem “23” debuted at #1 on both iTunes All Genre and Country singles charts, and led to his first album, Bad for Me [t.e2ma.net]. Earning next-big-thing and artist to watch predictions from the Grand Ole Opry, CMT, Amazon Music, MusicRow and more, Beckham is touring and is gearing up to share his new music with fans including the release “Dirt Floor [t.e2ma.net],” a neo western sounding summer love song.

Sisters Kendra Olson and Krista Slaubaugh have been playing music together since they could walk and officially formed Tigirlily Gold when they were still teens. They spent their high school years growing a fierce fan base in their home-state of North Dakota, and after moving to Nashville, TN, they cut their teeth by playing four-hour sets, three to four nights a week at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row on the city’s famed lower Broadway. Their debut, full-length album, Blonde, was released in 2024, featuring top 40 radio single “Shoot Tequila,” along with follow-up, top 30 single, “I Tried A Ring On.” Tigirlily Gold has been nominated for two CMT Awards and two People’s Choice Country Awards, and won the 2024 ACM Award for New Duo of the Year, where they performed “I Tried A Ring On” during the show to a national audience.

New this year, the festival will kick off Friday night with Kennesaw’s Got Country, a community talent showcase highlighting local and regional musicians. Solo artists, duos, and full bands from county genres are invited to apply. Performers may present original music or cover songs, and both acoustic and amplified performances are welcome.

Applications will open online on Friday July 17, giving aspiring performers the opportunity to take the stage during one of Kennesaw’s largest annual events.

Returning for its second year, the BBQ Competition Tasting Experience gives festivalgoers the opportunity to sample award-worthy barbecue from BBQ teams.

Held on Saturday, October 17, from noon to 3 p.m. ticket holders will enjoy tasting portions from each participating station, including a barbecue sample, an Anything Peach creation and a Sweet Baby Ray’s wing entry. Cash awards will be presented to the top three cook teams and the People’s Choice Winner. Space is limited and competitor applications are now available at pigsandpeaches.com. Tickets for the Tasting Experience will be available for purchase on Monday, July 27 at pigsandpeaches.com.

Families will find even more to enjoy at this year’s Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival with the addition of an expanded Kids Zone. Open Friday from 6 –10 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., the family-friendly area will feature interactive activities, a petting zoo, and a Kids Market, where young entrepreneurs will showcase and sell their own handmade products and creations.

Now celebrating its 26th year, the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival has become a signature summer tradition for food lovers, music fans and craft beer enthusiasts. With dozens of vendors, exhibitors and barbecue teams, the event delivers two full days of live entertainment, cool drinks and big flavor.

The 2026 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival is presented by Williams Elleby Howard & Easter and Ford of Kennesaw.

For more information, visit www.pigsandpeaches.com or call Kennesaw Parks & Recreation at 770-422-9714.