Spokane pig out in the park 2023

After three years of planning and rescheduling through cancellations, Pig Out in the Park is back. Throughout the week, visitors have the chance to sample a wide variety of foods, meet local artists and artisans, and see more than 100 free musical performances by local bands.

“It’s amazing how many people have come up to me and said, ‘You know what Spokane needs right now? A really good pig out in the park,’” said founder Bill Burke. “And I agree.”

As he began reading emails from local nurses and doctors about hospitals being overcrowded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Burke canceled last year’s event three weeks before it was due to expire.

“You never know what’s going to happen, but I have no intention of canceling now,” he said. “We wouldn’t want to hurt anyone… and by all accounts… we’re looking pretty good this year.”

Pig Out in the Park returns for the first time since 2019 and features 55 food vendors with more than 250 menu items, 35 public market stalls and four beer gardens offering a variety of adult beverages.

“You’ll never eat everything!” reads the promotional poster for Pig Out, which opens Wednesday and runs from 11am to 10pm through September 5.

When Burke started Pig Out in 1979, his goal was to find a way to offer a music festival for free to attendees. And today, with more than a hundred free concerts on the program, music is still at the heart of the event.

“Post COVID, we wanted to make sure we focused on local bands,” Burke said, noting his efforts to re-introduce himself and the festival to local musicians. “We made sure they knew we were here to support them.”

Planning a free music festival is never actually free. The cost of this year’s event has already exceeded half a million dollars – approximately $511,000 to be more precise. But between commissions on food sales, scholarships and sponsorships – this year including her first presenting sponsorship from Gesa Credit Union – attendees can attend all performances for free.

That year, Burke received more than 500 applications for the last 112 appearance spots.

“Most came from across the region, but bands from all over the United States want to play Pig Out,” he said. “We have a great reputation out there in the world for producing a hassle-free show with big audiences – so people want to play at our event.”

The music program spans a variety of genres, including performances by Chicago rap group Do or Die, Tom Petty tribute band Petty Fever, and Heart by Heart with Steve Fossen and Michael Derosier, among others. For a full performance schedule and other event details, visit pigoutinthepark.com.

During the festival, from August 31 to September 31, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., visitors can find $5 worth of meals at each participating grocer. 5.

“It can be anything on their menu, they can change it from day to day, but each of us has to come up with a $5 special,” Burke said. “We’re trying to make it as cheap as possible — and that’s one of the ways we do it.”

From beginners to old favourites, Pig Out’s vendors all make the event worth repeating. This year, Burke has made it a goal to recognize Azar’s Cafe for participating in every event since Pig Out began. If you count the year 2022, that’s 41 appearances.

“Karim (Azar) was one of the very first guys I ever spoke to when I first started putting this together,” Burke said. “And they’ve been helping me ever since.”

In terms of health precautions, Burke hopes visitors will take steps to stay safe.

“COVID has changed everything,” Burke said. “If you wish to wear a mask please do so – if you wish not to wear a mask I understand but be careful. And yes, let’s live again.”

Source