Smoke on the Water 2026Washington Noon Rotary · October 16–17
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Festival schedule

Two days. Full plates. Big memories.

From Friday's Pig Parade and waterfront concerts to Saturday's cook-off awards, family activities and classic cars—plan your festival weekend here.

October 16–17, 2026

What’s happening

Times and locations are arranged by day. Check back closer to festival weekend for any final updates.

Friday

October 16

12 events

Amusements Open — Free to the Public

Crab Park

Food Trucks Open

Downtown waterfront

Vendor Area Opens

Downtown waterfront

Beer Garden Opens

Ribeye's Tent

BBQ Chief Cookers Meeting

HQ RV

Pig Parade Lineup

Police Station

Pig Parade

Downtown Washington

Live Music with SAXY and The Thrill

Ribeye’s Stage

Pig-Cooking Showmanship Competition Judging

Cooker area

Carnival of Darkness Film Festival

Turnage Theatre

BBQ Pigs Delivered to Competitive Cookers

Cooker area

Live Music Continues

Ribeye’s Angus Room

Saturday

October 17

28 events

BBQ Cook-Off Judging Begins

Cooker area

Civitan Club Car Show Registration

Water Street · $25 registration · No pre-registration

View event flyer

Live Music by Nannette Garrett

Ribeye’s Stage

WMPCS 5K Family Fun Run/Walk

Washington waterfront · Details coming soon

View event flyer

Amusements, Train Rides, Artisans & Vendors Open

Festival grounds

Kids Zone — Beaufort Hyde Partnership for Children

Kids Tent at Crab Park

Children’s Free Events

Crab Park

Chili Volunteer Server Meeting

Chamber parking lot

Carnival of Darkness Film Festival

Turnage Theatre

Animal Shelter Benefit Ride Registration

West Main & Gladden Street festival staging area

View event flyer

BPAC Children’s Theatre

Kids Tent at Crab Park

Civitan Club Classic Car Show

Water Street

View event flyer

BBQ & Chili Sales Begin

Food sales area

Live Music with Lucy Iris

Mulberry Stage

Haunted History Tour

Register at the Alternative Stage booth by the BBQ tent

BBQ Contest Awards Announced

Ribeye’s Stage

Haunted History Tour

Register at the Alternative Stage booth by the BBQ tent

BPAC Chalk Fest

Crab Park · Awards at 2:00 PM

Costume Contest Registration

Kids Tent, Crab Park

Animal Shelter Benefit Ride — Kickstands Up

Festival staging area

View event flyer

Haunted History Tour

Register at the Alternative Stage booth by the BBQ tent

Costume Contest Judging

Kids Tent at Crab Park

Costume Contest Awards

Kids Tent at Crab Park

Live Music by Craig SAXY

Ribeye’s Stage

Civitan Club Car Show Awards

Water Street

View event flyer

Haunted History Tour

Register at the Alternative Stage booth by the BBQ tent

Beer Garden Closes

Ribeye's Tent

Festival Closes

See you next year!

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Car show. 5K. Benefit ride.

See the full event flyers below. Open any flyer full size or download a copy to keep.

Full Smoke on the Water 2026 Car Show flyer from Civitan on the Pamlico

Cars · Trucks · Bikes

Car Show

Civitan on the Pamlico welcomes cars, trucks and bikes to the Washington waterfront.

  • Registration: 8–11 AM · $25 · No pre-registration
  • Awards: 2 PM
  • Washington waterfront · Enter on Water Street

Vintage trophies, dash plaques for the first 100 entries, a 50/50 raffle and participant judging.

View full flyer Download PDF
Civitan on the Pamlico252-402-6699civitan27889@gmail.com
Full Washington Montessori Public Charter School 5K Family Fun Run and Walk flyer for October 17, 2026

Run for our school. Run for our community.

5K Family Fun Run/Walk

An all-ages, family-friendly 5K supporting Washington Montessori Public Charter School.

  • Start time: 9 AM
  • Saturday, October 17, 2026
  • Washington, NC · During Smoke on the Water

Proceeds support the school. More registration details are coming soon.

View full flyer Download PNG
Visit WMPCS for details ↗
Full 11th Annual Beaufort County Animal Shelter Benefit Motorcycle Ride flyer for October 17, 2026

11th annual · All riders & bikes welcome

Animal Shelter Benefit Ride

Ride for a good cause. All proceeds go to the Beaufort County Animal Shelter to help feed and house local animals.

  • Registration: 10 AM · Kickstands up: 1 PM
  • $10 per bike · $5 per person · 50/50 raffle
  • Staging: West Main & Gladden Street · Washington waterfront

Staging takes place at the Smoke on the Water Festival.

View full flyer Download PNG
William Bell (Sidewalk)252-945-3654

Festival admission is free.

Come early. Stay hungry.

Plan your visit

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Everything you need for festival weekend

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