MAULDIN, SC – Produced by the City of Mauldin, SOOIE., Mauldin’s Annual BBQ Cook-off showcases the heritage of the community through food and music. Hosted at the Mauldin Cultural Center’s Outdoor Amphitheater, the festival features more than 20 Cookers from all over the Southeast competing in a BBQ Cook-off judged by the South Carolina Barbeque Association (SCBA). Paired with great music and family fun, this can’t-miss festival is the perfect pig-out. SOOIE. will take place on Friday, September 17, 2021, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, September 18, 2021, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2020 was the 10-year anniversary for the Mauldin BBQ Cook-off, but unfortunately COVID-19 prevented a full celebration of the decade-old event. So though this year is the festival’s 11th year, it will also be the 10-year-not-10-year celebration – the 10th+1 Annual SOOIE. Mauldin BBQ Cook-off!
The festival opens Friday night with our Anything Butt competition, sponsored by The Greenville News. Participating cookers will serve anything BUTT their BBQ to pique your tastebuds. Sliders, grilled chicken, smoked cobbler—the only way to know what’s cooking is to come try it for yourself. These food items will be judged by a guest panel, with special awards given to the winners during Saturday’s ceremony. Live music will be performed by The Vinyl Junkies, followed by fireworks sponsored by United Community Bank.
Saturday features the main event, a BBQ Cook-off competition with a panel of certified BBQ Tasters from the SCBA. The public will also have a chance to cast their vote for the best BBQ and the winner of the Gabe Hunter People’s Choice Award. DJ Will Gladden of LEVEL Digital Music Entertainment will MC the event on Saturday. Activities throughout the event include a pig-calling contest, face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and more. Visit mauldinbbq.com for more details on this year’s cook-off.
There were five categories for 2020’s event: the BBQ Cook-off; a Ribs competition; Anything Butt Sweet and Savory; and People’s Choice. In Friday’s Anything Butt competition, team Tail-Gater Hater won in the Sweet category. In Savory, the winner was team Smoke by Day, Fire by Night.
Team Vicious Pig won the ribs competition, while FFITS BBQ won the Gabe Hunter People’s Choice Award. Five winners took home awards for the main competition. From fifth to first place, the winners were Tail-Gater Hater; Vicious Pig BBQ; The Hog Mafia; Back Alley BBQ; and Pimp My Pig in first place.
The Mauldin Cultural Center hosts many events throughout the year, including SOOIE. Our next event is the Mauldin Youth Theatre’s production of Sister Act JR, followed by a fundraising musical revue by Mauldin Theatre Company, MTI’s All Together Now, featuring classic showtunes from different eras. For more information on the Mauldin Cultural Center’s events, visit mauldinculturalcenter.org.
