Tampa’s biggest barbecue-and-country-music fundraiser returns next Saturday with a lineup built for a full day on the riverfront.

The 15th Annual Tampa Pig Jig takes over Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park on Saturday, October 17, from 1 to 10 p.m., combining live music, barbecue, games and philanthropy in one of the city’s most recognizable fall events.

This year’s headliner is Thomas Rhett, joined by Midland, Kameron Marlowe, Sister Hazel and Cassidy Daniels.

That lineup gives the festival a country-heavy center while still making room for Florida rock and newer artists.

Music is only half the identity of Pig Jig.

The event was created to raise money for NephCure, an organization focused on research, treatment and support for people affected by FSGS and nephrotic syndrome.

Over the years, the fundraiser has grown from a barbecue gathering into a major waterfront festival without losing that medical mission.

That combination of party atmosphere and purpose is what separates Pig Jig from a standard concert.

The barbecue competition remains a centerpiece, with corporate teams competing while food vendors along Food Row sell traditional and creative barbecue options to the public throughout the day.

Visitors should not assume every competition team is serving samples, because the public food experience is built around the event’s designated vendors.

General admission is currently listed at $140 including taxes and fees, and organizers say children age 10 and younger can enter free with a ticketed adult.

Tickets are sold online rather than at the gate, and the event warns that it has a history of selling out.

That makes buying in advance more than a convenience.

People planning to attend should also think about transportation before event day.

There is no dedicated Pig Jig parking lot, and parking around Julian B. Lane Park is limited.

Organizers point visitors toward downtown garages and encourage rideshare use, with a designated pickup and drop-off lane near the park.

The event is family-friendly, but there are a few practical rules worth knowing before leaving home.

Outside food and drinks, coolers and personal folding chairs are not allowed.

Dogs are permitted in the general-admission area only and must remain leashed.

Re-entry is allowed as long as guests leave through the main gates and receive a hand stamp.

For families with younger children, the free admission for ages 10 and under can make the event easier to justify despite the adult ticket price.

For music fans, the lineup is strong enough to make Pig Jig a destination event on its own.

For longtime supporters, though, the bigger story is the anniversary.

Fifteen years is a significant milestone for a locally grown fundraiser, especially one that has scaled into a citywide event while continuing to center families dealing with serious kidney disease.

If you go, expect a long day, a big crowd, a lot of smoke from the barbecue pits and one of Tampa’s most energetic fall weekends along the river.

Official information: Tampa Pig Jig, tickets, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, and NephCure.