Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church is officially ending its legendary barbecue tradition after 93 years. The event, long known as the “granddaddy of barbecues,” was a beloved Charlotte institution, raising funds for missions and church construction projects since 1929.
The decision follows the retirement of key leaders and a volunteer shortage that made it impossible to continue the large-scale effort. “Everything has a life cycle,” the church said. “For the Mallard Creek BBQ, that life cycle is 93 years.”
What began during the Great Depression as a fundraiser to pay a contractor became a celebrated fall gathering that fed thousands and brought the community together year after year. The church extended thanks to generations of volunteers and visitors who supported the event.
Though the smoke will no longer rise, the legacy of the barbecue lives on through the lives and missions it supported. For more information you can visit mallardcreekbbq.com.
