Thousands Turn Out To Start Pigging Out
The banners hanging above this year’s Pig Out in the Park read, “You’ll Never Eat it All.”
No kidding.
But diners could start with, say, a couple of tons of Finnerty’s Red Lion barbecue.
“We started with 2,400 pounds of ribs, 1,500 pounds of chicken, but we’re going to need more by Saturday,” said “Big” Dave Hisaw, Finnerty’s kitchen manager.
He played the half-dozen grills like a frantic Liberace, his chef’s hat bobbing white inside clouds of blue smoke.
The Riverfront Park food festival, which kicked off Spokane’s Labor Day weekend, started Thursday and continues through Monday.
While folks are chowing down, the Washington State Patrol will be hunting down drunken drivers, speeders and those who don’t use seat belts.
The start of the holiday weekend means drivers will see more troopers, along with city police and sheriff’s deputies, on the road.
“If you plan on drinking and driving, plan on seeing troopers,” WSP Sgt. Chris Powell said. WSP will patrol some areas usually left to city police, such as Division Street.
Workers at Pig Out in the Park booths will put in extra hours, too.
This year’s mass-eating frenzy will be the piggiest ever, organizers say.
“Last year, we had 142,000 servings,” promoter Bill Burke said. “We’ll do 150,000 this year. Easy.”
Burke has reason to be optimistic. According to the National Weather Service, there is only a slight chance of rain today. After that, it should be clear with high temperatures in the mid-70s.
The number of food booths was cut this year from 40 to 35 to prevent overcrowding, Burke said. Another 15 restaurants were put on a waiting list.
Walking around Thursday, it was easy to see why businesses want in. About 12,000 people showed up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Burke said. Throngs of folks sat at picnic tables piled high with shortcakes, cheese steaks and potatoes, deep-baked.
At the Azar’s Cafe booth, owner Karim Azar stuffed gyros and hurriedly served up hummus. Azar, eyes aglow, said he’ll move 4,000 Greek dishes during the five-day food fest.
The biggest dedicated seating area is easy to spot - it’s the fenced-off beer garden.
Volunteers pour wine and beer to benefit the Spokane Restaurant and Hospitality Association.
Last year, they emptied 154 kegs of beer. Volunteers said it will be even busier this year if the weather stays nice. Thursday afternoon, the sun was high and hot.
Which, brew being forbidden, made it tough on Thursday’s buttoned-up lunch-break crowd.
Charity Hegel had taken off from her job at a downtown accounting firm and sat eating salad. It probably was too hot for much else - she sat baking in black long sleeves. The guys standing around in ties didn’t have it much better.
“The food is worth it,” Hegel said.
Fortunately, folks can toss the dress code come the weekend. After all, this is no uptown deal - it’s all about piggin’ out.
“Some people want us to change the name,” Burke said. “I love it.”
When the fair started 13 years ago, it didn’t have a name.
“The first years were goofy,” Burke remembered. “We had everyone under two big tents, and if one vendor was really smoking, it smoked everybody out.”
About five years into it, they named it Pig Out in the Park. Burke isn’t sure who came up with the swine moniker.
“Big” Dave will be having fun at the Finnerty’s booth this weekend, unless he runs out of chow.
His 6,000 ears of corn may not last.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LABOR DAY CLOSURES The Labor Day holiday will affect some public services: All Spokane public libraries are closed until Tuesday. County libraries will be open with regular hours today and Saturday. Branches will be closed Monday. No mail will be delivered Monday, but post office box service will be provided at the Riverside and Liberty Park locations. All other government offices, banks and liquor stores will be closed Monday. Garbage collection throughout the metropolitan area will be one day late next week. Spokane Transit Authority service will be on a holiday schedule Monday, running from 8:45 a.m. to 7:22 p.m., when the last bus will leave downtown. All Valley routes will be shut down.