Oxford NC Hot Sauce Contest is Sept. 10

Oxford NC Hot Sauce Contest 2016 logo
Oxford NC Hot Sauce Contest 2016 logo

By Kay Whatley, Editor

Get your taste buds to Oxford, North Carolina, for the annual Hot Sauce Contest! Check out some of the fiery foods NC has to offer, and enjoy all the music, entertainment, and activities of a festival.

The 10th annual Hot Sauce Contest is Saturday, September 10, 2016, 11am-4pm. This is a public event, and all are invited to come check out the fiery choices, pick up some hot or mild sauce for home, have a drink, and enjoy a variety of NC foods and condiments.

According to the event organizers, the city-encompassing contest was born in one small shop:

Ten years ago Julia Overton, Owner of Stovall’s Gifts located at 100 Main Street in historic downtown Oxford, hosted an event in her store to promote North Carolina products, specifically hot sauces. From that event, the NC Hot Sauce Contest was born and grown to encompass the four main streets in downtown; College, Main, and Hillsboro/Williamsboro Streets.

The NC Hot Sauce Contest brings thousands of people to downtown Oxford, North Carolina to engage with merchants, artisans, and vendors. Based on 2015 attendance, as many as 15,000 people may take part in this hot sauce festival.

Not for the faint of heart, a Pepper Eating Contest is planned. Can you take the heat? Then this part of the contest may be just right for you. One competitor will win a $1,000 first prize, and another the $300 second prize.

There will be many things to do around town for visitors.  Oxford Parks & Recreation is holding the Top 50 Car Show on College Street in Oxford. While in Oxford, stop by the Granville County Museum or the Granville Gardeners Plant Sale.  In addition to showcasing history, the Granville County Museum will have its September Sensations Bazaar going on. There will be children’s activities too, so bring friends and family to spend the day.

The contest organizers describe this event as having “transformed the community and the downtown into a ‘Smoking Hot Family Oriented Day’ bringing thousands of people into Oxford.”

So join in the fun, let your taste buds dance a little, and enjoy the many city-wide activities on September 10.

For more details on the Hot Sauce Contest and related activities, visit the contest website at www.nchotsaucecontest.com.

The city of Oxford NC is in Granville County, in north central NC. It is about an hour north of Raleigh NC, and approximately 20 miles south of the Virginia state line.

Banner from Hot Sauce Contest Website
Banner from Hot Sauce Contest Website
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About Kay Whatley 2309 Articles
Kay Whatley serves as Editor and Reporter with The Grey Area News. Kay is a published author with over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. Kay Whatley is wife to Frank Whatley, founder of The Grey Area™ newspaper and The Grey Area News online news website.