Organizers are happier than a pig basking in a mudhole after Englefeld's 40th annual Hogfest turned out to be one of the most successful in recent years.
The three-day event, which took place over the July long weekend, attracted the largest crowd since the 25th anniversary Hogfest 15 years ago, Englefeld Recreation Board treasurer Deanna Miskolczi said.
This year's supper saw 1,270 feasting on 16 roast hogs, smoked and slow-roasted to perfection in a smokehouse adjacent to the Englefeld recreation centre.
"We were planning for 1,200, and hoping for 1,000," Miskolczi noted. "So getting that many (1,270) was really great."
Hogfest is the single-most important fundraiser for the Englefeld community. The town relies on funds raised from the dinner and other weekend events to fund recreational and community organizations throughout the coming year.
This year's event featured a slo-pitch tournament at the school grounds beginning on July 1, plus Canada Day fireworks that night. A morning parade got the festivities going again on July 2, with a children's carnival at the park in the afternoon. Facepainting, games and an inflatable bouncing castle were some of the highlights of the carnival.
A trade show featuring pie and coffee, as well as a penny auction, took place in the school gymnasium.Featured wares included beads, crafts and jewelry, books, Watkins products, fresh Saskatchewan-produced honey, and commemorative items from Hogfests past.
The big supper feast was followed by a dance with music by Shandar Gray and Catch 22.
Things wound up July 3 with a polka mass at the Holy Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church and a pancake breakfast at the school gym. Hosted by the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, the breakfast attracted more than 400, adding to the total proceeds brought in by this year's event.
Alhough she was hesitant to give a final dollar figure for the amount raised this year, Miskolczi was certainly delighted at the turnout.
"It was really fantastic," she noted. "And the weather was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend."
Last year's Hogfest had just over 600 people for the supper, and raised about $15,000 for the community.
Miskolczi noted that typically, about 700-800 people attend the Hogfest supper.
