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Collar City’s Pig Out festival celebrates 10th year
TROY, N.Y. » A Collar City tradition is turning 10 this year, marking a decade of serving up top notch barbecue to festival-goers from near and far.
The 10th annual Troy Pig Out will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday at Riverfront Park.
The family-friendly event will feature live music, outdoor activities, fireworks and, of course, barbecue. The contest is an official Empire State competition sanctioned by New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, citing New York pride in its place as the site of events that highlight the state and its tradition of excellence in offering unique foods and specialty dishes often based upon tried and true recipes that have endured through the generations.
Founded 10 years ago, the Troy Pig Out is a full day of family fun where culinary competitors duke it out for the title of best barbecue.
Likewise, foodies flock to Troy’s Riverfront Park to taste some of the area’s best barbecue cuisine.
Hosted by the Troy Downtown business Improvement District, Troy Pig Out aims to offer activities for all ages, palettes, and interests.
The festival includes a hot dog eating contest hosted by Hembold’s and Famous Lunch, a Collar City Cornhole Tournament, food and craft vendors, the Dinosaur BBQ People’s Choice Awards and fireworks over the Hudson River at dusk.
Additionally, there will be live music performances throughout the day by Legacy Music Group, Super 400, Bryan Brundige Collective, Rechorduroys and M.R. Poulopoulos.
Children’s activities will include a bounce house, ceramic painting projects, face painting, and an opportunity to see birds like owls, hawks, and ravens in person.
After working up an appetite, people can pig out on all the barbecue they can eat, including a whole roast pig, as well as Caribbean cuisine, jambalaya, a sandwich called The Hot Mess and bacon zeppoles. Vegans and vegetarians are welcome, with black bean quinoa burgers, quesadillas, fruit smoothies, and kettlecorn on the menu, too.
The Dinosaur BBQ People’s Choice Awards will feature barbecue pork ribs for attendees to taste and compare. Tickets, $2 each, will be for sale starting at 3 p.m. at the information tent located at the entrance of Front Street. Participants can redeem the ribs at their chosen competitors from 5 to 6:30 p.m. All votes must be handed in by 7 p.m.
At 7:45pm, the winners of the Troy Pig Out BBQ competition will be announced for best BBQ chicken, best pulled pork, best pork ribs, and best beef brisket, along with the Dinosaur BBQ People’s Choice award winner, Mayor’s Choice, and the Grand Champion.
The all-ages Collar City Cornhole Tournament, which is free, will begin sessions at noon, 2 p.m. 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The Troy Pig Out Hot Dog eating contests will take place at 12:30pm and 4 p.m., open for four contestants each. Participants must be ages 18 and older.
All are invited to come early and stay late for this full-day barbecue festival.
For more information, on the 10th Annual Troy Pig Out, including a full schedule of events, visit DowntownTroy.org.