Pig-out at the Pork Festival

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EATON – As the third full weekend in September has been for decades, this year’s Preble County Pork Festival is set for this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18, at the Preble County Fairgrounds.

The festival is a pork-eater’s dream. According to organizers, over 47,000 pounds of pork were served during the 2015 festival. Some 11,250 meals were served last year, between the pork chop smorgasbord and the all-you-can eat smoked sausage and pancake breakfast.

The fairgrounds opens at 6:30 a.m. both days, closing at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Parking and admission are free.

The festivities kick off with the parade on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Eaton and ending at the grandstands at the fairgrounds. Television personality Jim Bucher will serve as parade grand marshal.

As always, from breakfast to dinner meals including pork will be available. From the short order restaurant to the smorgasbord, there will be something to whet appetites of all sizes. Visitors also have a chance to purchase fresh pork to take home from the Country Store.

It’s also a great time to purchase items to decorate the home or to get a head start on holiday gift purchases. Crafts and gifts galore will highlight the shopping experience for the hardcore shoppers this weekend, with over 350 exhibitors from 10 states using over 600 booths across the fairgrounds. Booths will be open for perusal from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Last year, exhibitors came from Ohio, along with Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Alabama and Iowa.

Festival goers are reminded to visit Rotary Junction to vote on the best painted pig in the “Oinkers for Art” competition. The concrete pigs will be auctioned off to the highest bidders on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 5 p.m.

Corporate sponsors this year again include Freedom First Credit Union and Rumpke Trash & Recycling.

For additional information, check out the special insert in this edition of The Register-Herald.

By Eddie Mowen Jr.

[email protected]

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4056 or at emowen_RH.

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