Rotary Pig Fest Returns to New Tampa Saturday

One, two, three, four. An acoustic guitar kicks off the groove, and the singer jumps in:

“Cookin’ up a good time, sure to be the best

Bring your friends and family to rotary pig fest

It’s a pig roast competition, with lots of chicken, too

There’s food and soda, beer and wine, live music just for you!”

The first few lines of the Rotary Club Pig Fest jingle provide a good summary of what attendees can expect from the ninth annual event, which takes place May 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the grounds of , Cross Creek Boulevard.

“It’s a great, fun, family event,” said Gary Gunter, immediate past president of the New Tampa Rotary Morning Club, one of the half-dozen clubs from New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Temple Terrace involved in the popular outing.  

The Pig Fest raises money for the multitude of charities and schools the sponsoring rotary clubs support. Tickets are $25 each, a price that includes pork, chicken, cole slaw and beans, beer, wine, water and soda. Children younger than 12 eat for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Live entertainment, vendor displays and prize giveaways are a major part of the event. Planned, too, are a car and bike show, bloodmobile, demonstrations and a pie-eating contest to be judged by Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

“Last year we had a successful event,” Gunter said. “We had about 1,000 people. We expect about 1,500 people this year.”

Gunter said this year will be better because there are more entertainment offerings and vendors when compared with last year.

Some $30,000 is expected to be raised from the event, Gunter said.

For more information—and to hear that catchy jingle—visit the Rotary Pig Fest website.