CLIO — Four years in and Clio’s now annual Ribs and Rods Fest has become a growing, springtime attraction for the county. Overflowing with family fun and entertainment, 2026’s Ribs and Rods Fest is so jammed packed, it’s kicking off Friday night this year and Clio Mayor Adam Pate says admission to all events is free throughout the weekend [Friday, May 29 and Saturday May 30]. All events will take place at the Clio Elementary School located at 2635 Highway 9 East in Clio.
“I love Clio, it’s home to me. Clio is like so many other small South Carolina towns, but the uniqueness of Clio, I believe, comes from the vast history we have, its beautiful architecture—I want everyone to be able to experience a piece of Clio,” Mayor Pate said, explaining why bringing the Ribs and Rods Festival to the area was so important to him as mayor to accomplish.
He is quick to point out that at its inception, the town of Clio could boast of having the most millionaires per capital of any town in South Carolina and he says holding events like the upcoming festival provides not just opportunities for renewed economic growth but also for community fellowship, and Pate says both are needed to revive Clio and make the little town that is the apple of his eye great again.
The genesis for the event comes from Mayor Pate’s inaugural year as mayor.
“I came in just after COVID and we had really shut down a lot of our public events and I knew we needed a way to come together again, to unify as a community and celebrate each other together. Ribs and Rods is the perfect way to do this,” Pate explains.
Come to the Table
Leaning into two of Mayor Pate’s favorite pastimes [among others being ribs and rods!] of God and country, this year’s Ribs and Rods Fest is getting a spiritual jumpstart with the event’s Night of Worship kick off Friday night, May 29, and will feature musical guests Brook Tyner, Noah Tyner, Olivia Emanuel, Tyler Wright, as well as local songstress and Clio Elementary School Principal Ms. Joy Boan Rankin. Pastor Derrick Dease will be sharing the message “Come to the Table.”
Clio isn’t just coming together for the Lord; it is seeking to prove what the Lord can do when two or more gather in His name and is taking up a donation on behalf of cancer patients living within the town limits of Clio Friday night. The mayor says he is also extending a challenge beyond Clio to regional churches—the congregation that shows up with the most people will have a donation of $500 made in honor of the name of their church to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
The event will be held at the Ribs and Rods stage set up on the Clio Elementary School football field and will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 29.
Remembering our Veterans
After Friday night’s worship and praise, a service honoring the nation’s veterans will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday morning on the Ribs and Rods stage and will include special guests who will be announced closer to the date of the event, as well as honor local veterans from Clio.
Ribs
Mayor Pate says the town of Clio takes its BBQ seriously and he aims to prove it with this year’s lineup of culinary talent and prize awarded competitions.
“We are adding a whole hog competition this year that I am really excited about,” Pate said. He says attendees will be given the opportunity to vote and award a People’s Choice for best tasting ribs and hog. Samples from the winner’s offerings will then be sold by the pound or by boxes of ribs.
“This year we have increased awards to 73. We are this year awarding the Jim Norris award, honoring a local artist in vehicle pin striping from Wallace as well as a dear friend of mine,” Pate said, adding that the late Mr. Norris was recognized nationally for his gift. Additionally, sizeable monetary awards in various denominations are up for grabs
Also, this year will be a BBQ Pit Master Competition sponsored by McArthur Farms, contest for grilling ribs and chicken, and the Texas Roadhouse is even getting in on some Ribs and Rods action—offering a Rib Eating Contest—and the mayor says volunteer teams are still being organized.
Rods
“We have come a long way from our first year when we had just 43 cars,” Mayor Pate said, adding 2025’s Ribs and Rod’s saw a jump to 206 cars and the mayor says this year’s event is anticipating even more. Pate adds that initially the event only saw about five to six BBQ contestants enter.
Clio’s classic car show is why the event was moved to the Clio Elementary School football field explains Mayor Pate, saying before there was no extra room and close to twenty cars had to be turned away from the event—something Pate says he doesn’t want to see happen again.
“We have people drive over three-hours to get here and it is an influx of people this little town isn’t always used to seeing but we welcome everybody and are looking forward to a beautiful day of good family fun honoring our veterans and community, making memories over our shared American pastimes of food, cars, and entertainment,” Pate said, adding, “It truly is a blessing to see this event grow each year in the way that it has.”
The entertainment
When it comes to 2026’s Ribs and Rods Fest Mayor Pate can’t say enough about the entertainment lineup garnered for the event.
“We have a lot of talented entertainers this year. We are pleased to announce the Next Level Band of Charlotte will be performing,” Pate said. “They play a variety of hits from the oldies on.”
Slated to perform is Florence native Camryn Gardner, who is currently recording music in Nashville. The event’s performances will wind down into a culmination of Prince Madness when the nationally celebrated tribute band takes the stage.
As always, Clio’s stage will be outfitted with state-of-the-art sound equipment, and the mayor says he is looking forward to a rocking good time.
Ribs and Rods aren’t curtailing themselves to just food, cars, worship, and music, oh no, also on tap to entertain are crowd pleasers like the Hartsville Bubble Guy, At the Beach with Don Lockemy, Todd’s Twisted Balloons, and last but not least, Tom the Mime!
Mayor Pate says 2 Sisters Face Painting will also be present along with inflatables for kids, and nearly 50 food and retail vendors.
Making it all Possible
Mayor Pate says Ribs and Rods Fest could not be the beloved annual event it has become without the hard work and dedication of so many, in particular McArthur Farms, Scotland Healthcare who is sponsoring the Classic Car Show, Marty Wright Home Sales, CareSouth who is sponsoring activities for children during the event, and Hardy Lumber and Barns who are sponsoring a raffle for attendees to enter to win a gazebo. All proceeds from the raffle are going towards the purchase and installation of fencing to encircle and protect the Clio town playground.
“This event promises to be a full day of family fun, entertainment, cars, food, and so much more—we hope to see you there,” Mayor Pate said.
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