Ham & Yam Festival

Ham & Yam Festival The OFFICIAL page for Smithfield's Ham & Yam Festival. Celebrating over 40 years of agricultural heritage and all things Ham & Yam (sweet potato)!
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Happening the first Saturday in May each year this is THE event in Downtown Smithfield. Managed by DSDC The Ham & Yam festival began in 1985 as a challenge from Johnston County ham producers to the ham producers of Smithfield, Virginia. The festival now features a barbecue cook-off attracting great cooks from throughout the area to compete for cash prizes. Attendees can find many varieties of hams

and yams at the festival – barbecue from the cook-off, country ham biscuits, ribs, hot dogs, sweet potato fries and desserts. The festival hosts the “What’s That Yam Thing?” contest, a favorite for school-aged children given the opportunity to turn sweet potatoes into works of art. Visitors wander through the festival area filled with hundreds of booths occupied by face painters, local non-profit organizations, and vendors selling items including garden flags, handbags, kitchen tools, handmade jewelry and many other arts and crafts. The family event keeps crowds entertained with performances on three stages, children’s games, carnival rides, pig races, and a petting zoo.

There are only 240 more days until Ham & Yam 2027 is here! We are already making big plans and have some exciting news t...
08/25/2026

There are only 240 more days until Ham & Yam 2027 is here! We are already making big plans and have some exciting news to share...soon! Check back soon and put your guesses below about what our news could be 😁 🐷🍠

We get to have fun in Downtown Smithfield at more than just the Ham & Yam Festival! Looking back at last year's memories...
08/05/2026

We get to have fun in Downtown Smithfield at more than just the Ham & Yam Festival! Looking back at last year's memories make us excited for the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest! On Saturday October 10th, join us on Third Street for a traditional German Street Festival full of vendors, games, food, and of course BEER!

Hey Ham & Yam fans! If you’ve been missing the festival vibes, we have the perfect fix for you. Join us on Friday, July ...
07/01/2026

Hey Ham & Yam fans! If you’ve been missing the festival vibes, we have the perfect fix for you. Join us on Friday, July 3rd as we celebrate America's 250th birthday right here in Downtown Smithfield!

Think of it like the Ham & Yam Festival—it has the exact same community spirit, incredible energy, and is the absolute best way to spend a summer day downtown... there’s just a significant decrease in actual hams and sweetpotatoes at this one! 😉

✨ What we DO have lined up for you:
🎸 Live Music All Night (The WEJ, Stealing Tonight, and BC Big Band!)

🍔 Amazing Food Trucks (Including Bright Leaf Hot Dogs!)

🏎️ Car Show & Fun Zone

🎨 Sidewalk Chalk Competition (Artists start at 10 AM!)

🇺🇸 Historical Re-enactments

🎆 A Spectacular FIREWORKS Finale just after 9:00 PM!

Come for the fun, stay for the fireworks. We can't wait to see our Ham & Yam family out there celebrating together!

🐷🍠 One Month Later: Rain Can't Dampen Our Gratitude! 🌾🌧️Can you believe it’s already been a whole month since the street...
06/02/2026

🐷🍠 One Month Later: Rain Can't Dampen Our Gratitude! 🌾🌧️

Can you believe it’s already been a whole month since the streets of Downtown Smithfield were filled with the sights, sounds, and delicious smells of the Ham & Yam Festival?!

Looking back, we proved once again that a little North Carolina rain couldn't dampen our community spirit—and it certainly didn’t dampen our immense gratitude for the incredible sponsors who make this festival possible year after year. We truly couldn't do it without them!

We want to send a massive, heartfelt shout-out to some of our major supporters who stepped up big time:

Stevens Sausage & Agri Supply: Longtime, steadfast champions of the Ham & Yam Festival. Your continuous support is the backbone of this tradition, and we are so proud to partner with you! 🪵🚜

Aruza Pest Control: A huge thank you for sponsoring one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the weekend—the legendary pig races! 🏁🐷

To all of our amazing sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and resilient festival-goers who came out rain or shine (mostly rain): THANK YOU! You are the reason Ham & Yam remains a beloved tradition.

We’re already dreaming up big things for next year, and we can’t wait to see you all there (hopefully with clear skies!). ☀️✨

Stevens Sausage Co. Agri Supply Aruza Pest Control

Our wood carvings of Hammy T. Biscuit & Sweet Potato Cassie look AMAZING!!
05/02/2026

Our wood carvings of Hammy T. Biscuit & Sweet Potato Cassie look AMAZING!!

We told you earlier about our friends from Boone Hill Gallery doing wood carvings of our new mascots. Here’s the “semi-finished” product! They’ll take them back to the studio, let them dry out, and paint them. Stay tuned for the fully finished product in a few weeks!

05/02/2026

Concerts are officially starting! Thank you Miss Smithfield and the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard for kicking things off!

05/02/2026

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Food Vendors Expo!

Come discover your new favorite dish, meet the makers behind the item and experience the vibrant spirit of our culinary community.

Our Savory Winner is Not Just a Fry Guy!

Our Sweet Winner is Royal Cheesecake & Varieties!

05/02/2026

Get ready to pig out and shop small! 🐷 🍠

 The Ham & Yam festival is finally here, and while the food is legendary, the heart of the festival is our incredible community of small businesses and local makers.

From handcrafted goods to unique finds, you won’t see anywhere else, these vendors are the soul of our town. When you shop here, you’re not just getting something special – you’re supporting a neighbors dream. ✨

Grab your friends, bring your appetite, and let’s show our small businesses some massive love. See you there!

Spot a business, tag them here!

Address

200 S Front Street
Smithfield, NC
27577

Telephone

(919) 934-0887

Website

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