WHO WE ARE
The SC BBQ Shag Festival is an experience unlike any other. The 3 day event will bring Carnival Rides, Music, Vendors, Bands, Dancers, lots of people, and highlighted by the annual Marion "Woody" Curtis BBQ Cook-off competition. During festival week, citizens from the Pee Dee and Waccamaw regions flock to the ball fields of Hemingway for the annual celebration. Every year memories are made and traditions are celebrated.
First held in 1987, the SC BBQ Shag Festival has quickly become the most anticipated event in Hemingway. Each year local celebrities come out to experience the fun. They include Dan E. Lockemy from iHeartMedia whose stations include Eagle 92.9 & 102.9 The Flo. Lockemy provides music, games for the kids, and his vast collection of colorful suits, WWE Hall of Fame inductee Ric Flair, Mudflap & Palmer from 99.3 The Cat, and Ed Piotrowski from WPDE News 15.
Our festival chairperson is John Michael Collins. In 2019 Mr. Collins was elected Mayor of Hemingway. Born in Hemingway and a resident of Hemingway since he was a freshman in high school, Mr. Collins has made it his mission to help revitalize the town. His continued support of the festival is one of the reasons why we are able to provide a weekend of family fun.
In 2024, we are preparing for the 34th Annual SC BBQ Shag Festival! This spring, we are thrilled to welcome back everyone to the ball fields of Hemingway where we promise all of your favorite traditions will return and some new ones too.
John Michael Collins
Chairperson
THE BBQ CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Hemingway may not be a big town but there is one thing that we do big... BBQ! Hemingway is home to three BBQ restaurants (one in the city limits and two in the area).
Kenny's BBQ located on Main Street, is home to an all-you-can-eat buffet full of southern specialties. BBQ pulled pork, fried chicken, pileau, macaroni and cheese, fried catfish and more favorites are always available on the bar. During dinner time they offer seafood items as well including shrimp, flounder, and oysters.
Big D's located on Highway 41-51 on the Hemingway-Johnsonville border, is home to classic made from scratch, southern cuisine. They also offer country buffet style food such as pulled pork, BBQ chicken, pork chops, fried okra, and banana pudding. They also offer several items you can order directly from the kitchen including BBQ sandwiches and fried chicken.
Perhaps the most well known BBQ restaurant in our area is Scott's BBQ. Started by the late Rosie Scott and since taken over by his son Rodney, their pit-cooked BBQ brings BBQ fans and hungry diners from all over the southeast! As featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, this small family-owned business has quickly grown into a household name. Even the late Anthony Bourdain once visited Scott's BBQ to enjoy the vinegar-based pulled pork.