NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

05/11/2026

🔥 A HUGE thank you to our amazing sponsors for helping make the 20th Annual NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival possible! 🌶️

Because of your support, Downtown Oxford will once again be filled with incredible food, live entertainment, local vendors, and thousands of festivalgoers celebrating all things HOT!

We are so grateful for each business and organization that choose to support NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival. Thank you for helping us turn up the heat in Oxford, NC! ❤️🔥
Bailey Farms, Inc.
Benchmark Community Bank
Visit Granville County NC
Granville Health System
Oxford Credit Union
Duke Energy
Lewis Electric of Oxford, Inc.
Altec Inc.
US983
CP&P, A CMC Precast Business
Fidelity Investments
Carolina Heat Athletes
Granville County Chamber of Commerce
Bragging Rooster Beer and Mead
Bail Bonds by Kendra

04/28/2026

VENDORS: You only have two days left to submit your application before all rates increase on May 1st.

This is a weekend you don’t want to miss! 🔥

04/24/2026

If you need us, we will be dancing into the weekend!
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Our two day festival features a full lineup of live music, so mark your calendars for September 11th & 12th and enjoy a dancing break after trying the best sauces in North Carolina!

04/23/2026

⚠️ Please remember:
The ONLY official way to sign up is through our website:
👉 nchotsauceandfestival.com

We will never ask for payment or registration through social media messages, personal accounts, or third-party links.

If you see something suspicious, please report it and help us spread the word to keep our community safe.

04/05/2026

🐰🌶️ Happy Easter from the NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival! 🌶️🐰

The Easter Bunny came through—but this year, he’s bringing the heat 🔥🔥🔥
Forget the candy… our basket is packed with peppers and flavor!

03/24/2026

🔥🌶️ It’s finally here… applications are LIVE! 🌶️🔥

Want to be part of the heat this year? Vendor and sponsor applications are now open for the 20th Annual NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival!

This milestone year is going to be bigger, bolder, and spicier than ever and we want YOU to be part of it! 🔥

🌟 Don’t miss your chance to showcase your business, connect with thousands of festival-goers, and be part of one of Oxford’s most iconic events.

📩 Stay in the loop:
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, deadlines, and exclusive info:
👉 https://mailchi.mp/oxfordnc/nc-hot-sauce-contest-festival-newsletter

Let’s turn up the heat, Oxford! 🌶️🔥

11/11/2025

On this Veterans Day, we honor and thank all the brave men and women who have served our country with unwavering dedication and sacrifice. Your commitment to defending our freedom is truly remarkable. Happy Veterans Day! 🙏🎖️

10/31/2025

🎃👻 Wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween! 👻🎃

What do you call a spooky pepper?
A ghost pepper… it haunts your taste buds! 👻🔥

The NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival may still be months away, but we’re already getting chills thinking about those fiery flavors and hauntingly good sauces that return to Downtown Oxford each year! 🌶️✨

10/10/2025

🔥🌶️ WHAT A WEEKEND! 🌶️🔥

The 19th Annual NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival was HOTTER than ever!

📊 By the numbers: ✅ 27,600 attendees (up 12.2% from 2024!) ✅ 350+ vendors bringing the heat ✅ $1.35 MILLION economic impact for our community ✅ Visitors from NC, and VA! ✅ Approximately 10M Scoville units conquered in the Pepper Eating Contest 🔥

A HUGE thank you to our sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and every single person who came out to celebrate Oxford's spiciest tradition! From the incredible laser show to the live Hot Sauce Contest judging, you made this year unforgettable.
Downtown local businesses, food trucks, hot sauce and craft vendors — you're the heart of this festival. Thank you for making Oxford shine! ❤️

🎉 Mark your calendars NOW: The 20th Anniversary celebration is September 11&12, 2026. It is going to be BIGGER, BOLDER, and HOTTER than ever!

📸 Photos: Keith Newton Photography

10/08/2025

🔥 Spice showdown alert! 🔥

An Alabama competitor just claimed the crown in a blistering pepper-eating contest at this year’s NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival.

North Carolina Festivals NC Tripping Visit Granville County NC

Lance Woodard of Birmingham claimed victory after 18 fiery rounds at the N.C. Hot Sauce Festival’s pepper eating contest, outlasting local favorite Ausenci