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NC Hot Sauce Contest
September 14, 2019 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Free Admission
NC Hot Sauces and Barbecue Sauces, all competing for the title of North Carolina’s Best!!!!!!!
Bring the whole family out to one of Oxford’s favorite traditions… the annual North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest and Festival. This year’s event happens Saturday, September 14th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Enjoy live bands, crafted beer, NC made arts and crafts, Pepper Eating Contest and the finest hot sauce, rubs, and bbq sauces from around the state.
The NC Hot Sauce Contest brings thousands of people to downtown Oxford to interact with friends, merchants, fans, artisans, and vendors. In 2018, the event topped 18,000 visitors.
North Carolina’s finest hot sauces and barbeque sauces, along with breweries and wineries spice up the blends and texture of downtown’s historic streets.
Enter the NC Pepper Eating Contest sponsored by Bailey Farms.
Capture all the history of Oxford by visiting the Granville County Museum and their September Sensations Bazaar at the Harris Exhibit Hall, famous for showcasing local artisans.
There will be activities for children, local shops waiting to greet you and great restaurants, all at your fingertips.
2019 Hot Sauce Entertainment Center Stage
11: 00 – 1:00 pm Who Shot John
2:00 – 5:00 pm Love Tribe
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOT SAUCE CONTEST
Thirteen years ago Julia Overton, Owner of Stovall’s Gifts located at 100 Main Street in historic downtown Oxford, hosted an event in her store to promote North Carolina products, specifically hot sauces. From that event, the NC Hot Sauce Contest was born and grown to encompass the four main streets in downtown Oxford; College, Main, Hillsboro, and Williamsboro Streets.
In recognition of the event and its success, the North Carolina General Assembly on March 19, 2009 adopts the 2nd Saturday in September as North Carolina Hot Sauce Day sponsored by Representative Crawford.
Each year the Hot Sauce Contest grows and adapts to the changing and growing community adding craft brews and area food-truck adding to its rich and flavorful history. In 2019 Julia Overton announces her retirement.
The Downtown Economic Development Corporation and the City of Oxford acknowledge the “Hot Sauce Contest” as an important economic driver to Downtown Oxford’s current and future economy.