News that two new groups, the Petersburg Police Department and Taylors Mill Hunt Club will be among the participants in this year's 36th annual Virginia Pork Festival greeted volunteers May 26 at their annual dinner held at Greensville Ruritan Club.
The Petersburg Police Department will serve baked beans and the Taylors Mill Hunt Club will prepare chitterlings.
The pork chop dinner for the community group members who will help out at the festival was but a prelude to the 43,000 pounds of pork that will be served hot off the grill on June 9.
Board members Mark Mitchell, Brian Thrower, Butler Barrett, Jimmy Thompson, Vincent Powell and Mack King were recognized.
The event attracts about 15,000 people from 32 states. About 30 clubs split the proceeds from the festival fundraiser.
The pork chop dinner prepared by Julian Mitchell Catering fed about 100 civic-minded men and women, including the Greensville County Sheriff's Office and Emporia Public Works, who will operate booths, direct traffic and help with the enormous amount of parking needed.
The purpose of the dinner two weeks before the event is to make sure everyone understands health department and other rules involved in feeding such a large crowd outdoors, said Mack King, festival board president.
King praised clubs for their hard work every year and those who contribute annually to the event. He said the event would not be possible without the many volunteers.
He asked the volunteers to remember that they are only supposed to serve a sampling of the food and not a meal. Many hungry people come through the gates after 6 p.m. expecting to pig out, he said.
Over 20 tons of pork will be served -- everything from barbecued spareribs to chitterlings to fried ham and red eye gravy as well as hushpuppies, corn on the cob and French fried sweet potatoes, pigs feet and barbecued Boston butt.
This year, Boar's Head will provide a bag lunch to the volunteers who are preparing food and performing other tasks at lunchtime on June 9.
King reminded volunteers that although the gates open at 3:30 p.m. food cannot be served until 4 p.m.
Five years ago the festival initiated a $100 fine for anyone caught serving food early. No one has ever been fined, King noted.
Every group must have a representative present on the afternoon of the festival inside the Ruritan Club for a short meeting at 2 p.m.
Clubs need to have someone at their booths at 10 a.m. when the health inspector will be making rounds. Groups need to bring two gallons of water each as well as a fire extinquisher.
After the festival, all groups must exit through the front gates, but not before cleaning up their booths. One club was not asked back this year because they left their booth dirty, noted King.
Vehicles are subject to search after the festival. Clubs must serve food until 7 p.m. Any club that runs out of food will be required to serve more next year.
If you are ready to kick up your heels and do some dancing there is live music here at every turn -- five stages to be exact. From pop to country and beach to rhythm and blues, you'll find that the Virginia Pork Festival rivals many festivals dedicated solely to music. Featured music this year includes: The Embers, The Konnection, The Rhondels, Blackwater Junction, and Coast 2 Coast Entertainment Presenting Wayne Cook.
The menu includes sausage biscuits, ham biscuits, barbecued spareribs, pork burger, pork meatballs, barbecue, country ham & red eye gravy, BLTs, barbecued loin chops, hot dogs, grilled loin chops, souse, black eyed peas and stewed tomatoes, banana pudding, Boar's Head hot ham and cheese, Pork Festival Stew, pork skins, Italian sausage, bologna burgers, pork & beans, strawberry shortcake, sweet potatoes and more.
Tickets are $32 and available for purchase at www.vaporkfestival.com or by calling (434)-634-6611.
