26th Annual Hog Day is a Green, Family-Fun Event

Hillsborough, NC (June 2, 2008)- Join the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce in celebrating the 26th anniversary of Orange County’s Largest Festival, Hillsborough Hog Day. Held in Cameron Park behind Cameron Park Elementary School at 240 St. Marys Road. The event will feature rides, games, crafters, assorted vendors, antique car display, live music and lots of food, including two tons of fresh-cooked barbecue.

The year’s Hillsborough Hog Day will be the first “trash free” public outdoor event to be held in Orange County. “The goal is waste minimization; reducing waste in the first place, and composting and recycling as much as we can, says Muriel Williman with Orange County’s Solid Waste Management Department and Hog Day Committee member. “While some trash is expected, we would like to reduce waste by 75-80%, even 90%. With everyone’s help, we can!”

“The chamber feels it’s important to make Hog Day as green as possible, thus helping our community and the environment,” adds Margaret Cannell, chamber of commerce executive director. “We hope that this festival can even serve as a model for other special events!”

Hog Day begins on Friday evening, June 20, when 30 teams of cookers from all over the state begin to slow cook hams and shoulders to perfection during the night, while, in Cameron Park, The Deal followed by The Flabbergasters perform. The Deal plays old time rock and roll while The Flabbergasters sing a unique blend of Pop, Disco, Beach Music, Rock, Funk, Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Motown, and Top 40 music from the 70’s, to present. The concert is festival style seating, so bring a blanket or chair. Vendors will be available for food and drink or please visit some of Hillsborough’s wonderful restaurants.

Gates open at 6 pm, with the opening act starting at 7 pm. Admission is $5 in advance and at the gate with children 12 and under free. Advance tickets are available at the Chamber office at 102 N. Churton Street. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music. Kids rides and food vendors will be available.

Saturday, June 21 general admission is $3, with children ages 12 and under free. Festivities begin with an opening ceremony at 9 am and the Gospel group Breakthrough. To follow, the barbecue contest winners will be announced and barbecue sandwiches will be sold for $4. Throughout the day additional vendors will also be selling food, drinks and other items. A locally grown organic pig will also be cooked that day.

Featured entertainment includes Beach music from the popular Jim Quick and The Coastline Band and also Nantucket, one of eastern North Carolina’s favorite rock bands playing classic rock and R&B from the 70s and 80s. Other’s performing include Breakthrough (Gospel/Christian), Above Gravity (Rock), The Shades (Motown, Beach, Disco/Funk and Classic Rock & Roll) and Wicked Steep Hill (Rock and Classic Oldies).

The Central Carolina Vintage Car Club’s Antique Car Exhibit returns this year with up to 100 antique cars and trucks on display.

Children and families can also enjoy pony rides, see seven potbelly pigs, ride carnival rides and play carnival games and try hula-hoops. A kid’s pig-calling contest is judged by Wool E. Bull (Durham Bull’s Mascot). Face painting is available Friday night.

Hog Day T-shirts, caps, aprons, collectible mugs, Hog Day “Terra” stuffed pigs, BBQ stickers and Cat’s Meow wooden figurines (AME Dickerson Chapel) will be sold. Also numerous arts and crafts booths featuring local garden art, weaving, sculpture, woodwork, painting, jewelry and pottery will be on display. Also, don’t forget to check out the products and services offered from area businesses along Industrial Row. Various non-profits will also have booths.

Finally, due to the summer heat and for the safety of attendees, people are asked to leave their pets at home.

To get to Hillsborough Hog Day, from I-85 take exit 164 or from I-40 take exit 261. Parking is very limited in downtown Hillsborough. For your convenience shuttles will run on Saturday from 9 am-7 pm from the parking lots at the SunTrust Bank and the old Wal-Mart on S. Churton Street near I-85; North Hills Shopping Center (Maxway) on N. Churton Street near Hwy 70 Bypass and Churton Grove Shopping Center on the Hwy 70 Bypass near St. Marys Road. Look for “shuttle parking” signs. Shuttle drop off and pick up at the event is at the Visitors Center at 150 E. King Street. Designated handicap parking is available.

Hog Day sponsors are Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NC, BB&T, Sports Endeavors, Taylor-Hall Properties, Time Warner Cable, Piedmont Electric Membership Cooperative, PHE, Inc., THD, Inc., Saturn of Chapel Hill, Carolina Game and Fish and Dual Supply.

For information, please call the chamber at (919) 732-8156 or visit http://www.hogdays.com.


Did You Know?

UNC was the first state-supported university in the U.S. and enrolls nearly 30,000 students from all North Carolina counties, all U.S. states and more than 100 foreign countries.