How to Celebrate National BBQ Day in South Carolina

Get ready to fire up the grill and indulge in the rich flavors of South Carolina’s unique barbecue cuisine! Each year, National BBQ Day is celebrated on May 16, and there is no better place to celebrate this holiday than South Carolina. Our state is renowned for its barbecue heritage, so why not come taste this beloved culinary tradition for yourself right here in the Pee Dee?

With its legacy of slow-cooked meats, the Palmetto State is a barbeque lover’s paradise. In fact, it all started right here 500 years ago when, along the SC coast, the Native Americans who were cooking meat over a pit filled with burning wood met up with some Spaniards who were raising hogs—and the rest was history. The favored sauce back then was most likely made from vinegar and pepper. Today, our region boasts four distinct regional styles.

One of the best ways to experience the authentic flavors of South Carolina barbecue is by exploring the Pee Dee BBQ Trail. Our region is home to some of the most iconic and mouth-watering barbecue joints in the state! The Pee Dee BBQ Trail is a self-guided tour that takes you through nearly two dozen different barbecue restaurants, each with its own unique flavors and traditions. 

From mustard and vinegar sauces to heavy and light tomato sauces, the Pee Dee BBQ Trail offers a comprehensive journey through the state’s one-of-a-kind culinary landscape. Check out some of the restaurants included on the trail here:

• Darlington County

• • Holt Bros BBQ – second location
  • Nick’s BBQ & Drive-In
  • Westwood BBQ

• Dillon County

• • Shuler’s BBQ

• Florence County

• • Elliott’s BBQ Lounge
  • Big D’s B-B-Q Barn
  • Cain’s Bar-B-Que
  • Country Cousins BBQ
  • D’Z Pit BBQ
  • Holt Bros BBQ
  • Piggybacks BBQ & Catfish
  • Roger’s BBQ House
  • Schoolhouse Bar-B-Que 
  • Slabs
  • Wholly Smokin’
  • Woodstone BBQ and Seafood

• Marlboro County

• • Stanton’s Barbeque and Fish Camp

• Williamsburg County

• • Brown’s Bar-B-Que
  • Cooper’s Country Store
  • Kenny’s BBQ
  • Scott’s Bar-B-Que

While exploring the Pee Dee BBQ Trail is a great way to celebrate National BBQ Day in South Carolina, there are other ways to enjoy the holiday. Host a backyard barbecue with friends and family, featuring classic South Carolina barbecue dishes like pulled pork, ribs, hash and rice, collard greens, and coleslaw. And how can we forget a staple barbecue dish—sweet, homemade banana pudding! If you don’t want to grill it all up for yourself, call one of the restaurants on the trail to order ahead.

If you’re a traveler and a bucket list item is to sample every style of barbecue in America, you won’t have to travel across the country to do it. South Carolina is the only state in the nation where you’ll find all four of the basic types of barbecue sauce, sometimes on the same menu. Download the South Carolina BBQ Trail Map, gas up the car, and start eating your way through our state!