TAMPA, Fla. — Thirteen years ago, a group of friends started a backyard barbecue fundraiser for their buddy who had been diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS. Will Wellman, who had FSGS, was the target of the fundraiser, with his friends trying to help pay for his medical bills.
Since 2011, the small, neighborly backyard barbecue has turned into an annual festival held at Julian B. Lane Park in Tampa, Florida. The event features live music, fresh barbecue, and local souvenirs every year.
Throughout the years, Pig Jig has hosted musicians such as Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Sam Hunt, and Riley Green. However, the 2024 Pig Jig hosted artists Chase Rice, the Revivalists, and Dierks Bentley.
Due to the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the event had been postponed from the weekend of Oct. 19 to the weekend of Nov. 3. Re-coordinating availability with the vendors and musicians must have been no small feat, and the Tampa community expressed their gratitude for the rescheduling by coming together to raise money for FSGS research.
In addition to raising money for the research of FSGS, Pig Jig donates funds to NephCure, a nonprofit that funds research on kidney diseases, treatments, and a search for cures. NephCure focuses on research on FSGS, rare kidney diseases, and Nephrotic Syndrome, a disorder that causes a leak of proteins in the kidneys.
Cissi Carling, a junior at Plant High School in Tampa, attended the festival on the final day, Nov. 3, and shared thoughts on her experience.
“My favorite part of the festival was the food, listening to The Revivalists, and how interactive the singers were with the audience,” Carling said. “I love that not only is it a really fun festival, but it is also for a great cause. Tampa definitely came together because there were lots of people competing in the barbecue contests and lots of donations for kidney disease research and hurricane relief.”
Tampa Pig Jig’s 2025 dates were announced on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The event will take place during the weekend of Oct. 18, 2025.