NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

NC Hot Sauce Contest & FestivalNC Hot Sauce Contest & FestivalNC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

NC Hot Sauce Contest & FestivalNC Hot Sauce Contest & FestivalNC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival
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  • Sauce & Rub Contest
  • Pepper Eating Contest
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    • Home
    • Festival
    • Sauce & Rub Contest
    • Pepper Eating Contest
    • Vendor Info
    • Sponsor Info
    • Volunteers
    • About Us
    • Contact

  • Home
  • Festival
  • Sauce & Rub Contest
  • Pepper Eating Contest
  • Vendor Info
  • Sponsor Info
  • Volunteers
  • About Us
  • Contact

The Sauce, Rub and Salsa Contest

Sauce Entry Process:

  1. Fill out the entry form listing the category with 1 sample bottle for the sauce to be judged. 
  2. The top 3 contestants in each category will be called to the Baily Farms Pepper Eating Stage where the Champion for each listed category will be announced. 
  3. A cash prize of ($500) will be given to each category Champion and medals will be awarded to the 2 runner-ups in each category.
  4. Sauces entered by mail AND not present at the day’s festival are limited to 1 entry per contest year Mail to: NC Hot Sauce Contest, 300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford NC 27565
  5. First place Champions will receive a jpg “winner” seal in recognition as a 2025 NC Sauce Winner to add to labeling providing that sauce winner the much-deserved bragging rights as a 2024 NC Hot Sauce Winner!​   
  6. Winners will be announced from the Julia Overton Main Stage. 


We will NOT accept ANY product "privately labeled" outside of North Carolina for a named NC Company or any sauces containing "pepper extract".

2024 Sauce & Rub Contest Winners!

    Hot/BBQ Sauce & Rubs Contest

    Contest Judging Rules:

    • All entries MUST be PRE-REGISTERED by 08/01/2025
    • All entries MUST be produced in North Carolina 
    • All entries MUST have a professionally labeled bottle (ready for retail)  
    • Each entry MUST fill out an entry form with contact information and check the “category” for entry judging  
    • No entry will be accepted if “pepper extracts” are used in the ingredients
    • ALL Sauce Contestants  must pre-register each bottled sauce and mail it to NC Hot Sauce Contest, 300 Williamsboro St. Oxford NC 27565 by August 1, 2025, to qualify for "blind" judging 

    Hot Sauce Categories:

    Powder/Rubs Categories:

    Hot Sauce Categories:

    • Mild Sauce
    • Hottest Hot Sauce
    • Verde Hot Sauce

    BBQ Sauce Categories:

    Powder/Rubs Categories:

    Hot Sauce Categories:

    • Mustard Based
    • Vinegar Based
    • Tomato Based

    Powder/Rubs Categories:

    Powder/Rubs Categories:

    Powder/Rubs Categories:

    • Classic BBQ Rub
    • Hot Rub
    • Sweet Rub 

    Salsa Categories:

    Peoples Choice Award:

    Powder/Rubs Categories:

    • Mild Salsa
    • Hot Salsa
    • Verde Salsa

    Peoples Choice Award:

    Peoples Choice Award:

    Peoples Choice Award:

     Don’t miss out on the chance to vote for your favorite Hot Sauce vendor! Just scan the QR code at their booth and let us know who you think deserves the crown. Your vote matters—let’s make it spicy! 

    Judging by Head Chef Kyle Wilkerson, Chef Marc Cavanaugh and a selected team from Vance-Granville.

    Copyright © 2025 NC Hot Sauce Festival & Contest - All Rights Reserved.


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    September 12 & 13, 2025

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