The pork festival feud continues and we reap the benefits
Famous feuds? Hatfields vs. McCoys. Hamilton vs. Burr. Miller vs. Nelson.
Miller vs. Nelson? Yes. Miller vs. Nelson. Or Nelson vs. Miller. I don’t want to offend.
This feud is going on five years, and it’s the best feud to ever happen to Trenton. Because of this feud, the city is home to not one, but two pork roll parties. It’s Scott Miller’s “Official 5th Annual Pork Roll Festival” atMill Hill Park vs. T.C. Nelson’s “Trenton PorkRoll Festival” at Trenton Social.
Both festivals are this Saturday, May 26. Both festivals start at 10 a.m. Both festivals feature all things pork roll.
How this happened, how there are two competing festivals, is a topic up formuch debate depending onwho you ask.
This much is for sure: The first festival happened five years ago. Today, Miller claims it was his idea solely. Nelson says it was a collaboration. A look back at a Facebook post fromJanuary 2014 sheds a sliver of light on the argument, but honestly, it makes a case (or a taylor! ha!) for both.
Miller posted the following: “... Dreaming about the 2014 Trenton Pork Roll Festival again…” Later in the thread, he comments on the post with this: “TC Nelson, can we hold the 1st Trenton Pork Roll Festival at Social at the end of May?” Nelson replies, “Yes, yes, and yeeeeessss!” with this later: “Genius my friend, pure genius. I’ve already had a waterfall of ideas to throw at you!”
See? Both sides can claim some ownership. Miller had the original notion, Nelson had the venue and plenty of ideas. Who knows who came upwithwhat after that. Unless youwere in the room, there’s no way to know.
This much is sure: The first one was a huge success.
And then the split happened. Details aremurky. Lawyers got involved. In the end though, both pushed on with competing events.
Which, as it turns out, might be for the best. Both guys are pulling out all the stops. Music, kids stuff, food vendors, you name it, the festivals will have it for the thousands of people that will be attending.
Miller’s festival will feature Pork Roll Porter from Exit 7 beer.
Nelson’s will have pork roll ice cream fromWindy Brow Farms. Miller? Pork toll tater tots. Nelson? Pork roll sushi. Miller? DeLorenzo’s on the Go. Nelson? Hey! They’re also going to have DeLorenzo’s on the Go! Can’t we all just along?!?!?
“Mr. Nelson has perpetuated a false narrative,” Miller said. “Everything I say is completely verifiable.”
“I have a son, and when I’m done kickingMiller’s ass at pork roll festivals, my son will start kicking his ass,” Nelson said.
OK fine. Maybe there’s not a grand pork roll reconciliation in the works. Maybe Trenton will always be “doomed” to having a pair of competing festivals.
Well, you askme, two is better than one, and a hell of a lot better than none.
My advice? Check out both their websites. Check out both events. Have fun, celebrate Trenton’s unique contribution to the world’s palate, and know that you’re smack dab in themiddle of the biggest food fight in New Jersey history.
Enjoy the fact we have two guys doing all they can do to help bring locals and tourists to the Capital City. Theymay not like each other, theymay wish the other would just go away, but in the end, these two fellas have donemore for pork roll since John Taylor and George Washington Case.
Also this: I plan on starting a Taylor HamFestival. I’m going to hold it every third Leap Year on February 29 in The Trentonian parking lot. Save the date.