ZEPHYRHILLS – The Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce announced cooking competition winners from the 2026 Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival on Feb. 28 in downtown Zephyrhills.
The festival serves as one of East Pasco County’s signature events, blending competition, community, live music and family fun. Proceeds support the Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce and its foundation, which awards scholarships annually to Pasco County students.
Kidz Grillin’ Contest
The Kidz Grillin’ Contest, sponsored by Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, Chick-fil-A Zephyrhills, BayCare Wesley Chapel and Sonny’s BBQ, showcased the talent of young grillers from across the community.
Cassidy Hartz won first place, followed by Adalynn Bristow in second and Bentley Douglas in third.
The Kidz Grillin’ Contest remains one of the most beloved traditions of Pigz in Z’Hills, giving young chefs ages 5 to 15 a safe, hands-on opportunity to showcase their creativity and confidence on the grill.
Backyard BBQ Competition
This year marked the return of competitive cooking to the festival with an official Backyard BBQ Competition sanctioned by the Florida Barbecue Association. The competition drew teams from across Central Florida and the Tampa Bay region, along with strong local representation in Zephyrhills.
Powered by Smoke was crowned the Grand Champion.
Parrothead Pokers received honors as Reserve Grand Champion.
Detailed scores are available through the Florida Barbecue Association at fba39.wildapricot.org/page-18115.
People’s Choice
The People’s Choice contest, sponsored by Effie Mae’s Kitchen, added an interactive element to the competition, giving attendees the opportunity to sample backyard barbecue and crown their festival favorite.
Mike’s C7 BBQ, of Zephyrhills, won People’s Choice.
Community Support
The Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce recognized the support of Zephyrhills Florida Spring Water, which donated bottles and gallons of water for the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival.
The contribution helped keep competitors, volunteers and attendees hydrated throughout the day while supporting the mission of the Greater East Pasco Chamber Foundation.
