Pensacola EggFest is a 100% volunteer-led charity BBQ cook-off held every November in Pensacola, FL. Cook teams from across the country compete on Big Green Eggs while attendees sample their food, all in support of local charities. Since it began in 2013, Pensacola EggFest has raised over $1,000,000 for causes serving families right here in our community.
How Pensacola EggFest Started
Pensacola EggFest was founded in 2013 by Jerold Hall, Doug Jolly, and Lisa Lyter, three friends who combined a love of BBQ with a desire to give back. What started as a backyard-sized idea grew year after year, eventually outgrowing its original venue and moving to the Hadji Shrine Temple to make room for more cook teams, more attendees, and more impact.
“The people of Pensacola love to give to improve their community,” says co-founder Jerold Hall. That instinct is what built EggFest from a small cook-off into one of the region’s best-known charity events, without ever losing its volunteer, community-first roots.
What Happens at Pensacola EggFest
The weekend kicks off with a VIP Dinner on Friday evening, followed by the main event on Sunday. Cook teams, from serious competition pitmasters to enthusiastic backyard cooks, set up on-site and prepare everything from briskets and smoked oysters to paella and dessert, all cooked on the Big Green Egg. Attendees sample the food, a panel of celebrity and local judges hands out awards, and the People’s Choice vote lets the crowd weigh in too.
Award Categories:
- Judges Choice
- People’s Choice
- First Responders
- Non-Profit/Ministry
- Professional: Restaurant/Food Truck
- Spirit of EggFest
It’s a competition, but the spirit of the event is closer to a community cookout than a formal contest. Teams cook side by side, share tips, and compete for a good time as much as for the trophy.
Looking to attend or compete? See ticket pricing or find out how to enter a cook team.
The Real Reason EggFest Exists
Behind the smoke and the friendly competition, EggFest exists for one reason: to help people who need it.
“Those charities are kids who won’t go to bed hungry, kids fighting cancer who will get more research, and families that will feel safer in our communities,” says co-founder Doug Jolly. “All year long, our cook teams mobilize to serve thousands of meals to thousands of deserving people.”
Since 2013, that mission has added up to more than $1,000,000 donated to local charities, money raised one ticket, one cook team entry, and one sponsorship at a time. Recipients have included Manna Food Pantry, which fights hunger across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties; Rally Pensacola, which supports families of children battling cancer; Sacred Paws; Ronald McDonald House; Pace Center for Girls; and Guardian Ad Litem, among others.
Every ticket sold and every cook team that signs up helps push that number higher.
More Than One Day a Year
While the November event gets the spotlight, the EggFest crew stays active year-round, cooking at more than 20 community events annually, from feeding volunteers at Manna’s Rotary Against Hunger food-packing event to supporting UWF Homecoming and the Ascension Sacred Heart NICU Radiothon. The November event is the biggest weekend of the year, but for this team, giving back isn’t seasonal.
Why People Keep Coming Back
Pensacola EggFest’s reputation isn’t just anecdotal. In an independent survey conducted by the University of West Florida College of Business, attendees gave the event a Net Promoter Score above 97, a figure Bain & Company classifies as “world class,” and 96% said they felt a genuine sense of community while there.
“The generosity of the community just amazes me every year,” says co-founder Lisa Lyter. “This is a perfect match, a love for cooking and eating good food and giving back to our community.”
How to Be Part of It
There are three ways to get involved:
- Attend — Get General Admission or VIP tickets for this year’s event.
- Compete — Register a cook team, promote your business or organization, and cook for a cause.
- Sponsor or partner — Contact us to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Pensacola EggFest 2026?
Pensacola EggFest 2026 takes place Sunday, November 15, at the Hadji Temple, 800 W 9 Mile Rd, Pensacola, FL. The VIP Dinner is the Friday before, November 13.
How much has Pensacola EggFest raised for charity?
Pensacola EggFest has raised over $1,000,000 for local charities since it began in 2013.
Is Pensacola EggFest a nonprofit?
Yes. Pensacola EggFest is a 100% volunteer-led charity event, with all proceeds supporting local nonprofits.