The Story of Spooky Q
What began as an idea rooted in fire, tradition, and a love for great barbecue quickly became something much more.
Spooky Q 1792 was born at Iberico Acres, where raising Iberico hogs is more than a livelihood—it’s a craft built on patience, care, and respect for heritage. It felt only natural to bring people together around that same philosophy, inviting pitmasters, families, and food lovers to gather and celebrate the art of barbecue.
In its very first year, Spooky Q came to life over Halloween weekend at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Monticello, Kentucky. What we hoped would be a good event became something truly special. With more than 20 competitors firing up their pits and over 500 visitors filling the grounds, and arguably the best BBQ trophies anywhere, the air was thick with hardwood smoke, music, laughter, and the unmistakable energy of a community coming together.
But from the very beginning, there was also something else.
Spooky Q was never meant to be just another competition. It became a gathering of traditions—old and new—blending serious pitmaster skill with a sense of fun, creativity, and just the right amount of Halloween mischief. From the KCBS Master Series competition to the crowd-favorite ancillary contests, from live music to costumes and family activities, the event created something that felt both grounded in barbecue culture and entirely its own.
Call it atmosphere. Call it timing. Or call it what many have come to believe—the presence of something just beyond the flame. As the fires burned and the smoke drifted into the cool autumn air, stories began to circulate. Of a place where the coals never quite go out. Of a watchful spirit tied to the craft of whole hog barbecue. A quiet legend that would later become known as The Haunted Hog.
And yet, like all good stories, the first chapter didn’t end without challenge.
Despite the success of the inaugural event, it became clear that Spooky Q needed room to grow—support that would allow it to expand, evolve, and fully embrace the vision behind it. The kind of event that brings people together around fire and tradition deserves a place where it can thrive without limits.
So, a decision was made.
Spooky Q would move.
Not disappear—but evolve.
Because the smoke doesn’t belong to one place. It travels. It lingers. It finds the ground where it’s meant to rise again.
As we look ahead, Spooky Q returns for its second year, bringing with it everything that made the first event unforgettable—competition, community, and craftsmanship—along with something new. The legend that quietly formed in year one now steps into the spotlight with the introduction of The Haunted Hog Pitmaster Challenge, a whole-hog competition that tests patience, skill, and mastery of fire in its purest form.
The next chapter of Spooky Q is already taking shape.
A new location will be revealed. The fires will be lit again. And the smoke will rise—stronger than ever.
Because Spooky Q is no longer just an event.
It’s a tradition in the making.