Pigkickin’ Pickin’ Party

Silhouette of a pig head within a circular border.

Join your fellow bluegrass pickers for a weekend of jamming. This will be a hotel style jam. Rooms from $109 a night.

Winter Pickin’ Party: Feb 26-27 2027

Reserve your room!
Holiday Inn Express logo with green and blue colors.

Holiday Inn Express-Porter’s Neck

168 Porters Neck Road

Wilmington, NC 28411

Is your band interested in signing up for a showcase time? Fill out the form below and we will contact you!

Band Showcase Inquiry

  • People playing musical instruments, including guitars, violins, and a double bass, in a hallway with an audience watching.
  • Three musicians, two young boys and an older man, performing on stage with guitars and a banjo, microphone, and double bass in the background.
  • A group of musicians performing on stage at the Pig Kickin' Pickin' Party, playing guitars and mandolins, with a banner in the background and a colorful carpeted floor in the venue.
  • Four musicians playing instruments on a stage, including two with guitars, a banjo, and a double bass, during a live performance.
  • A group of people playing musical instruments in a circle during a music session at a cozy indoor space.
  • A group of musicians playing string instruments in a well-lit indoor space, audience members seated and standing around, with large windows showing a parking lot outside.
  • A group of people in a room, some playing guitars and banjos, with a woman with long hair in the foreground holding a guitar, and a man standing in the center playing an acoustic guitar.
  • People sitting in a circle in a room with two guitar players, papers on the floor, and a man entering through a door in the background.

Saturday Showcases

Friday Showcases

TBD

Saturday Workshops

Logo for Earl Jones Music School featuring black text and red guitar and banjo.

TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

  • That’s easy! Click the “Link to Hotel Reservations” button listed above. You will be directed to the Holiday Inn Express-Porter’s Neck link for the Pigkickers Pickin’ Party. Follow the instructions to reserve your room. Then you are all set to have a pigkicking good time!

  • Yes, we plan to have band showcases on Friday and Saturday evening at the hotel. All bands are welcome to fill out the inquiry form for more information. Bands will be selected at the discretion of the festival organizers and on a first come, first serve basis. You must have a room reserved in order to attend the showcases.

  • No, there is no fee to see the showcase bands. We do suggest a $10 donation.

  • Yes, there will be group workshops offered on Saturday. These will include, jamming workshops hosted by Earl Jones Music School, a flat picking workshop and a banjo workshop. The workshop schedule will be posted on this website. The workshops are free, but you are welcome to make a donation.

  • All donations for workshops and showcases will go to Earl Jones Music School Studio.

  • Absolutely! This is a family friendly event…the hosts are children after all! Please know that this is a typical hotel style jam and late night picking is expected to be happening.

  • Don’t worry, there is plenty to do closeby. The Pigkicking Pickin’ Party is located in walking distance to several restaurants and a few shops. The hotel is also 15 minutes from historic downtown Wilmington, 15 minutes from Wrightsville Beach and 30 minutes from Surf City, NC.

  • Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers decided to hold this picking party as a way to build and strengthen the bluegrass community, specifically in the coastal areas. The event may grow into something bigger as time goes on, but for now we would like to remain a free event focused on giving pickers a place to jam and gather in the off season. This is not a money maker for any bands involved.

  • Please note that all event details, including but not limited to the lineup of bands, performance times, and schedule, are subject to change. Dear MariBella endeavors to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information; however, we cannot guarantee that the details presented will remain unchanged. Circumstances beyond our control, such as artist availability, technical issues, or unforeseen events, may necessitate alterations. Consequently, Dear MariBella is not responsible for any modifications to band lineups, performance times, or other event aspects that may occur. We appreciate your understanding and recommend checking for updates regularly.

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Bluegrass Today - Pigkickin’ Pickin’ Party