Ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, oh my. What’s your favorite kind of BBQ? | Photos provided by Visit Central Florida, via Emily Mort
Do you smell that? It’s the sacred combination of tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices colliding with juicy and tender, slow-cooked meats to create one of the South’s greatest simple pleasures: BBQ.
The two-day extravaganza kicks off the second annual Florida Triple Crown of BBQ, a series of three competitions throughout Central Florida where both professional and amateur chefs vie for the prestigious Triple Crown title (and up to $1,500 in cash prizes).
Pigfest attracts 150+ competition teams, and attendees have the first chance to taste what could become a Triple Crown winner.
So, grab a package of hand wipes and leave your white t-shirts at home, because we’ve got all of the details for a sweet + spicy weekend.
🎟️ Know before you go
Admission is $5 (free for kids 12 and under) with free public parking
Exchange cash for Pig Bucks to purchase food from 150+ vendors and support local non-profit organizations and charities
Enjoy live music and family-friendly activities
🏆 Pigfest history
Pigfest is one of the largest BBQ competitions in the Southeast, and the biggest Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event in Florida.
Plus: Bringing world-class BBQ to the masses isn’t Pigfest’s only goal. Since its inception in 1997, Pigfest has raised more than $2 million in charitable donations to the Lakeland community.
🐖 Taste the competition
If Pigfest leaves your mouth watering for more, there are two Triple Crown events happening this spring:
Meet The Modern, a small development of 12 townhomes now under construction just north of the Southgate Shopping Center. The units are designed to be highly energy efficient, and developer Shawn McDonough says residents could pay less than $50 in monthly electric fees. See the renderings. (LkldNow)
Stat
87.7%. That was Polk County’s 2025 graduation rate — the highest on record. Tenoroc High School in Lakeland made the biggest gains in graduation rates, jumping from 78% in 2024 to 91% last year. Caps off to you, grads.
Try This
Treat your inner child with Game Night at the Museum on Thursday, Feb. 5. For one night only, the Florida Children’s Museum will allow grown-ups to play in the exhibits as a fundraiser. Get tickets to enjoy an open bar, bites, bingo, and more.
Cause
Due to this week’s cold weather, Talbot House Ministries and Lighthouse Ministries are opening their shelters to more overnight guests in need of a warm place to stay. Help fellow Lakelanders by donating blankets, coats, and food to both organizations. (LkldNow)
Weather
Local citrus growers were also watching out for last night’s freeze watch and using innovative tactics to keep their crops safe. At Golden Ridge Groves in Bartow, plants were sprayed with water to create a layer of ice that actually keeps them warm — here’s how it works. (WFTS)
Community
The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency is in the midst of its Restore the Core initiative to update the plans for its Downtown, Midtown, and Dixieland districts. Don’t forget to complete the community survey before it closes on Friday, Jan. 30.
Number
111. That’s the age of Gertrude Williams, one of Polk County’s longest-living residents. After blowing out 111 candles, her birthday wish came true: to meet Sheriff Grady Judd. (WTSP)
Kids
Already thinking ahead to spring break? Little Lake Play just released its camp schedule for the week of March 16-20. Register kids ages 2-9 so they can join activities like a mural scavenger hunt and a Hollis Garden stroll. Spots are sure to fill up fast.
Find a spot along Providence Road, 10th Street, or Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to see the floats, dancers, and marching bands vying for awards. Pro tip: Judging will take place at the 10th Street + MLK Avenue intersection, so that will be prime viewing.
For parking, try the Coleman-Bush Building or Brooks Park, or find a street parking spot. The parade will also be streamed online.
It’s hard to believe, but forecasts are saying north Florida (including my family in the Panhandle) could actually see snow two years in a row. I swore last year I wouldn’t miss another chance to see snow in the Sunshine State, so I might just be roadtripping this weekend.
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