North Carolina's Foodie-Favorite Town Near Raleigh Hosts A Hot Sauce Festival And Sizzles With Local Flavor

Imagine the Oscars, but for hot sauce. Peri peri, BBQ, kimchi ketchup, jalapeño, salsa verde — you name the spicy flavor, and chances are a version of it is running for fame and glory in North Carolina's Hot Sauce Festival in Oxford. Held annually in September, just as the South prepares to roll into a mild-weathered fall slumber, this quirky festival is much more than an event exclusively for sauce aficionados. It is a true celebration of the town and a testament to its up-and-coming foodie reputation. This unique event for all the family is estimated to attract between 15,000 and 20,000 people to the town in Granville County.

The town of Oxford served as a vital tobacco hub in the mid-19th century, thanks to its strategic location next to the Virginia border. Today, Oxford is a vibrant town for lovers of good food, boasting casual eateries and delectable distilleries.

Oxford is easy to reach from both of North Carolina's biggest hubs. It is only a 30-minute drive from Durham or just under an hour from Raleigh, North Carolina's "City in a Park," with a vibrant art scene and distinct urban oasis feel. Driving is the best option, as there are no direct buses from Durham or Raleigh (although you can take one to the nearby Henderson and arrange for a taxi or Uber from there). Its relative proximity to Lexington also makes it ideal to explore another North Carolina foodie hub, known as the state's "gateway to BBQ," with fabulous restaurants and craft brews.

The festival's Sauce and Rub contest is arguably the hottest item on the agenda, as thousands flock to Oxford to see who is crowned as the best. The competition is divided into four categories: hot sauce, powder and rubs, salsa, and BBQ sauce. Make no mistake: this is an unabashed showcase of local produce. Not only does every single product need to be produced and registered in North Carolina, but it also cannot contain pepper extracts, meaning every entry must be genuine and made with fresh ingredients.

The foodie audience is very much involved in this process, with a People's Choice Award aimed at getting people to sample and vote for their favorite sauces on display. And yes, of course, there is a hot chili pepper eating contest to test your palate's boundaries and tolerance of spice. If you don't win the $1,000 prize, at least you can say you've tasted some of the hottest peppers in the world!

The festival is not just a smorgasbord of new hot sauces to test your palate with. The two days of the festival are packed with live music and entertainment, which are just as engaging as the food line-up. In between bites, you can see bands perform, as well as attempt to climb a rock wall or even enjoy some bull riding. The town really goes all in on the carnival aspect, bringing good food and fun under one roof.

It's hard to resist the call of North Carolina's seafood trail with its promises of fresh coastal delicacies such as oysters, but a trip inland to Oxford will match your cravings. One of the state's favorite dishes is, in fact, closely associated with all things saucy: mouth-watering North Carolina BBQ. Whether it's ribs and cornbread or pulled pork and 'slaw you're after, you are likely to find a fine bite in one of Oxford's many eateries.

No Southern town worthy of respect lacks a neighborly café or a fresh seafood restaurant. As a foodie mecca, Oxford has ample choices in both departments. Feeding hungry mouths in Oxford for over a decade, Strong Arm Baking is a staple of the local bakery scene. Not only do they cook up breakfast and lunch, but the owners Thomas and Julia also sell their baked goods at Durham and Oxford's fresh weekly markets. If you are ready for a proper meal packed with Southern flavor, the self-proclaimed "town's favorite restaurant," Uptown Bar and Restaurant, features a wide array of North Carolina-inspired bites. Here, boom boom deep-fried shrimp and bacon cheese fries share menu space with classics like steaks and burgers.