This Is What A Fourth Of July BBQ Looks Like In North Carolina (And How You Can Do It Too)

Summertime in the Tar Heel State means one thing: it’s time to fire up the grill and celebrate the Fourth of July the North Carolina way. Around here, Independence Day isn’t just a holiday—it’s a full-blown tradition steeped in smoky flavor and Southern pride.

Growing up in North Carolina, I’ve seen how families turn backyard barbecues into something truly special, with secret sauce recipes handed down like family heirlooms and pork slow-cooked to perfection.

From tangy vinegar-based sauces in the east to rich, tomato-kissed styles out west, our BBQ is as diverse as our landscapes. Whether you’re a born-and-raised local or just passing through, these North Carolina BBQ traditions will make your celebration sizzle like fireworks over the Cape Fear River.

1. Eastern-Style Pork: The Vinegar Victory

Eastern-Style Pork: The Vinegar Victory
© The Kitchn

Forget what you know about BBQ sauce – in eastern North Carolina, we’re vinegar purists to the core! My Uncle Ray once drove three hours just to lecture a cousin who dared use tomato in his sauce. “Blasphemy!” he called it.

Our signature style features whole hog cooking with a tangy vinegar-pepper sauce that cuts through fatty pork like a hot knife through butter. No ketchup. No mustard. Just apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, and maybe a pinch of brown sugar if you’re feeling fancy.

For authentic eastern-style success, cook your pork low and slow (we’re talking 12+ hours), then chop – never pull – the meat before dousing with that liquid gold. The resulting sandwich on a simple white bun will change your life!

2. Lexington-Style Red Slaw: The Perfect Sidekick

Lexington-Style Red Slaw: The Perfect Sidekick
© recipestasteful

Red slaw is the Robin to our BBQ Batman – no North Carolina Fourth feast is complete without it! Last summer, my neighbor’s visiting California relatives mistook it for a strange salad and demanded the “normal coleslaw” instead. Their loss!

Unlike the mayo-drenched version found elsewhere, our Lexington-style slaw gets its vibrant red hue from the same vinegar-based sauce used on the meat. The cabbage soaks up all that tangy goodness, creating a crunchy, zippy counterpoint to smoky pork.

Shred your cabbage fine (a food processor works wonders), then toss with ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and a dash of hot sauce. Let it marry in the fridge overnight – the longer it sits, the better it gets!

3. Brunswick Stew: The One-Pot Wonder

Brunswick Stew: The One-Pot Wonder
© The Kitchn

Simmering away beside every respectable NC smoker, you’ll find a cast iron cauldron of Brunswick stew – the legendary concoction that’s sparked more border wars than actual history! Georgia claims they invented it, but bless their hearts, we know better.

My grandmother’s recipe requires three meats minimum (pork, chicken, and whatever else wandered too close to the kitchen), lima beans, corn, tomatoes, and potatoes, all cooked until the wooden spoon stands straight up. The secret? A splash of BBQ sauce and hours of patience.

Brunswick stew reaches peak deliciousness when made a day ahead and reheated, allowing the flavors to meld into spoon-licking perfection. Serve it thick enough to eat with a fork – that’s the Carolina way!

4. Cheerwine Floats: The Hometown Refresher

Cheerwine Floats: The Hometown Refresher
© beyondgumbo

Cherry-red bubbles rising through vanilla ice cream create the ultimate Carolina cool-down on a scorching July afternoon. Born in Salisbury, NC in 1917, Cheerwine soda remains our state’s liquid treasure – a secret weapon against humidity that’ll make you forget sweet tea exists (almost).

When my cousin from Ohio first tried a Cheerwine float, she stood perfectly still for ten seconds before declaring it “better than Christmas.” The combination of that cherry-kissed soda with creamy vanilla ice cream creates a frothy, fizzy miracle.

For an adult twist, add a splash of bourbon – I call it the “Declaration of Independence Float.” Just remember to keep the boozy version separate from the kiddie table, unless you want some very patriotic nap time!

5. Pig Pickin’ Cake: The Sweet Finale

Pig Pickin' Cake: The Sweet Finale
© Allrecipes

Nothing says “party’s not over” like bringing out the fluorescent orange glory of a Pig Pickin’ Cake! Despite its peculiar name (which comes from serving it at whole-hog barbecues), this dessert contains zero pork – just pure sunshine-colored happiness.

The first time I brought this cake to a northern friend’s gathering, people approached it with suspicion. After one bite, they were fighting over seconds! The magic formula combines yellow cake mix, mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and Cool Whip frosting – sophisticated it ain’t, but delicious? Absolutely.

Make it a day ahead so the fruity juices have time to seep into every crumb. Keep it refrigerated until serving time, then watch as your guests swoon over this retro masterpiece that’s been cooling down hot Carolina celebrations for generations.

6. Cornhole Tournaments: The Competitive Spirit

Cornhole Tournaments: The Competitive Spirit
© Etsy

Bean bags soar through humid air as trash talk flows freely – the unofficial state sport of North Carolina has commenced! My family’s annual tournament has ended two engagements, started three friendships, and created one family legend about Uncle Pete’s miraculous backward throw of ’98.

Every proper NC barbecue features at least two cornhole sets, carefully positioned away from both the grill smoke and the sprinkler zone. Teams form organically, often dividing along family lines or decade-old rivalries that resurface each summer.

Want to host like a local? Invest in quality boards (homemade earns extra points), establish clear rules before the first toss, and keep a cooler nearby – nothing fuels competitive spirit like an ice-cold beverage and the stars and stripes waving overhead!

7. Screened Porch Gatherings: The Mosquito-Free Zone

Screened Porch Gatherings: The Mosquito-Free Zone
© Yahoo

Southern architecture’s greatest gift to humanity might just be the screened porch – our natural habitat for July Fourth festivities once the sun starts to set. Grammy’s porch was command central for our celebrations, complete with ceiling fans spinning lazily overhead and mason jar candles creating that magical summer glow.

The perfect Carolina porch needs three things: comfortable seating that can handle a BBQ sauce spill, ceiling fans to keep the air moving, and enough space for impromptu dancing when someone inevitably breaks out the beach music.

No porch? No problem! Create a similar vibe with a pop-up canopy, string lights, and portable fans. The key is providing a comfortable transition space between indoor air conditioning and the sweltering outdoors where the cooking happens.

8. Watermelon Seed Spitting: The Sticky Tradition

Watermelon Seed Spitting: The Sticky Tradition
© Gardening Know How

Projectile fruit seeds might seem primitive, but I’ve seen corporate lawyers and kindergarten teachers alike transform into competitive beasts during our annual seed-spitting showdown. The current family record belongs to my 78-year-old grandmother – 23 feet, 9 inches – a distance she reminds us of every single year.

The setup is simple: cold watermelons, a measuring tape, and a designated spitting zone away from the food tables. Children typically dominate this event, their smaller mouths creating superior seed velocity (at least that’s my excuse for never winning).

For added authenticity, award prizes in categories like “Most Dramatic Spit,” “Best Form,” and “Most Surprising Distance.” Just be prepared to referee disputes – nothing gets more serious than watermelon seed Olympics on Independence Day!

9. Banana Pudding Buffet: The Custard Competition

Banana Pudding Buffet: The Custard Competition
© Smitten Kitchen

Yellow custard, vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas create the holy trinity of Southern desserts – one that’s sparked more friendly feuds than college basketball in these parts! At our family gatherings, you’ll find at least four different versions of banana pudding, each cook secretly convinced theirs reigns supreme.

Aunt Mabel adds bourbon. Cousin Jim insists on homemade custard. My sister makes hers with instant pudding and Cool Whip. And Grandma? She still makes the old-school baked version with meringue on top that makes everyone nostalgic for childhood.

The beauty of a banana pudding buffet is tasting the evolution of a classic through different generations. My tip? Make yours a day ahead so the cookies soften to that perfect mushy-but-not-too-mushy consistency that marks banana pudding perfection.

10. Fireworks Over the Lake: The Grand Finale

Fireworks Over the Lake: The Grand Finale
© Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center

Nothing caps off a Carolina BBQ better than sprawling on a patchwork of blankets at the lake’s edge, watching explosions paint the water’s surface with temporary magic. My favorite childhood memories involve sticky fingers from s’mores, fighting sleep to see “just one more” colorful burst, and adults softly singing patriotic songs.

North Carolinians take their fireworks viewing seriously – prime spots at Lake Norman, Jordan Lake, or the Outer Banks get claimed hours before sunset. The smart move? Bring chairs, bug spray, and battery-operated fans to survive the wait in classic southern comfort.

Can’t make it to a professional show? Create your own backyard sparkler station with glow sticks and sparklers for the little ones. Just remember – in true Carolina fashion – safety first, followed closely by making sure everyone has a proper viewing spot!