Hog Wild Fest comes to park this Saturday

Now in its fourth year as the Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Association’s annual fundraiser, the Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Festival takes to Railroad Park in downtown Brookhaven starting at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Festival is held every year in downtown Brookhaven and sponsored by the Fire Association with proceeds benefiting the non-profit organization.

General admission to the festival on Saturday is free. The event will feature a barbecue cookoff, vendors, kids’ activities and live entertainment. A 5K Cystic Fibrosis Walk also will start at 8 a.m.

Other festival activities will include a motorcycle show and a 3D archery shoot.

At least 13 barbecue cookers will also be competing for more than $2,200 in prizes in the barbecue cookoff. Cash awards will be handed out for first and second places in four barbecue categories: chicken, ribs, brisket and pork butts, and an overall people’s choice award also will be presented. Judging will begin at noon Saturday.

The festival will continue until around 4 p.m.

New this year, there also will be a Miss Hog Wild Festival pageant, which will take place at the Brookhaven Recreation Department on Highway 51 starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Contestants will compete in categories for age ranges 3 months to 3 years; Young Miss Princess with age ranges of 4-5, 6-7, and 8-7; junior high for girls in grades 5, 6 and 7; high school for grades 8, 9, 10 and 11; and collegiate for high school seniors and up to age 25 for contestants who have not married and have no children.

The pageant winners will reign over the Hog Wild BBQ Festival and Cookoff Saturday and will present the cookoff winners’ trophies and awards at the festival. The overall winner will be eligible to compete in the Miss Mississippi High School Pageant in Hattiesburg.

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