Pig in the Park to be held this weekend
By Staff Reports
Published in News on April 9, 2013 1:46 PM
The fourth annual Pig in the Park will be held this weekend, with activities starting Friday night and continuing with the barbecue contest at Old Waynesborough Park on Saturday.
The event is a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club and is being sponsored by Goldsboro Milling Co. and Sam's Club along with the Goldsboro Travel and Tourism and Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.
Saturday's event will feature a pig-cooking contest, musical entertainment and vendors.
Activities on Saturday start at 9 a.m.
Contestants will be shooting for the title of Wayne County's best barbecue, with nine teams competing in the Backyard Barbecue division and 25 competing in the whole-hog contest.
The "whole hog cook-off" event will be certified by N.C. Pork Council-approved judges and the top three teams will be eligible to enter the NCPC state championship barbecue cook-off. Other prizes include $300 for the first place and entry fee paid for the state contest; $175 for second place; and $150 for third place.
After the 10:30 a.m. judging, barbecue plates will be served from noon until 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $5 each and must be purchased in advance, by contacting Jo Heidenreich, development director of the Boys & Girls Club, at 919-735-2358 or by emailing her at jheidenreichbgcwayne@nc.rr.com.
The Eastern Carolina Vintage Farm Equipment Club will also be on hand, with a tractor display and wagon rides featured. Rides will be $2 for adults, $1 for children age 4 to 12, and children 3 and under ride free.
Nine teams are participating in this year's "Backyard BBQ" division, Ms. Heidenreich said, and all 25 spaces have been filled for the "whole hog cook-off."
Entertainment will include an appearance by the Drumming Up Character drumline from the Boys & Girls Club, the Mighty Saints of Soul and the Blake Kearney Band.
Activities will continue until 4 p.m.
The event actually starts Friday night in downtown Goldsboro, with the "Barnyard Bar Bounce," starting at 7 p.m. at the Arts Council and followed by D's Sports Bar at 8; The Laughing Owl at 9; Torero's Mexican Restaurant at 10; and The Flying Shamrock at 11.
The highlight of the event is the Boss Hog competition.
Reigning champion Kirk Keller, sponsored by The Flying Shamrock, returns to defend his title. He is pitted against Bill Edgerton, representing Torero's Mexican Restaurant; Brad Hood, representing D's Sports Bar; Geoff Hulse, representing The Laughing Owl; and Steve Keen, representing the B&G Grill.
To support their candidate, people need to buy a set of pig lips, with votes costing $1 and lips $5 apiece. The candidate with the most votes gets to kiss a live pig at Saturday's event and to carry the title of Boss Hog.
For more information, visit www.piginthepark.com.