Fifth Avenue in downtown Zephyrhills came alive with the sound of the Blues and taste of Barbecue thanks to the 15th Annual Pigz in Z’hills BBQ and Blues Festival.
The William Eiland Bandstand was the home base for some of the greatest blues bands in the Tampa Bay Area and the downtown business district was the site for the sweet and smokey BBQ taste. Five bands played throughout the day and nine barbecue vendors were joined by several other food vendors to feed the masses.
“We come every year for the food and the atmosphere,” said Joan Thibidore of Plant City, who was enjoying a rack of ribs with her husband Rick. “We have a lot of events in Plant City, but we look forward to this one in Zephyrhills every year.”
The 2025 Pigz in Zhills event was one of the highest attended festivals organized by the East Pasco Chamber of Commerce as thousands of people crowded downtown from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the music and food, more than 130 vendors were set up selling everything from homemade peanut butter to lawn flags to rain gutters. There was something for everyone.
“I don’t know how to calculate the number of people here, but all I know is the vendors are super happy, the food guys are happy, the bands are happy, the fans are happy, so everybody’s happy,” said East Pasco Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vicki Wiggins. “This is a really great crowd.”
According to Wiggins, the attendance levels are back to where we were before the pandemic, which is beneficial to the downtown merchants who received tremendous foot traffic.
The music guests that had fans dancing downtown were Ed Wright, the Kid Royal Band, Mark Shane and the Shane Gang and Chuck Riley’s All-Star Band.
“The music is incredible,” Wiggins said. “I was a blues fan before, but now I’m a blues fan in BOLD. This is really great.”
There more going on at the William Eiland Bandstand than music. The chamber crowned the Kidz Grillin’ Competition winners. Roman Stockes took first place as Rosalie Cason was second and Sid Jarrett, Jr. was third. The hog calling champion was also crowned.