ATLANTA — The Southeast Tourism Society has named Kannapolis’ Jiggy With a Piggy Festival one of its Top 20 events in the Southeast for May 2018.

Jiggy With the Piggy is an annual festival sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. More than 60 teams from around the U.S. take part in a barbecue competition for bragging rights and prizes.

The three-day festival includes fireworks, concerts, a children’s movie, a 5K race, the Zucchini 600, and more than 100 artisans. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit groups.

More than 10,000 people celebrate what has become the kickoff to summer in Kannapolis.

This year’s Jiggy With the Piggy will be May 2-4. For more information, visit jiggywiththepiggy.com

The Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the region since 1985. Travel industry experts select 20 events per month, and the society publicizes them throughout the United States.

The complete list is published on two websites, Southeast Tourism Society and Travel Media Press Room.

“The Southeast is home to unique and memorable events throughout the year. In spotlighting the Top 20 festivals and events each month, STS is not only giving these events the recognition they deserve but we’re also creating a quick reference guide to some of the best festivals in the Southeast,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the society.

Events considered for the Top 20 recognition must be at least 3 years old and have attendance of at least 1,000.  For more information, visit  SoutheastTourism.org or call 770-542-1523.

The Southeast Tourism Society, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Atlanta, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting tourism in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.