The 9th Annual Pepper Festival, one of the largest chef competitions in North Carolina, brings the heat with a new line up of spicy dishes and brews, family activities, a fashion show and sizzlin’ live music!

Join us on October 2, 2-7 p.m., as chefs compete with one-of-a-kind recipes, featuring the locally bred and grown North Carolina pepper. From pepper chocolate to pepper vodka, you’ll see a dizzying array of dishes from culinary stars like The Fearrington, TOPO, Harvest 18, Centro, Saint Jacques and Tribeca Tavern along with bodacious brews from the likes of Fullsteam, Carolina Brewery, Fortnight, Steel String, Four Saints, Crude Bitters, Mystic and more.

Eat your fill while enjoying the musical line up of rock to bluegrass with Rinaldi Flying Circus, Front Country and Mysti Mayhem. Families can explore workshops, face-painting, bubble art and storytelling journeys at the Kids’ Pepperpalooza.

Proceeds benefit Abundance NC, a nonprofit that supports sustainable food, fuels and more than 200 farmers across the state.