This Pig-Out Festival In Washington Has Been Going Strong Since 1981
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published August 14, 2023
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
Sad to say goodbye to summer? Send the season off with a bang at Pig Out In The Park! This food festival in Spokane, Washington, has been serving good memories since 1981. From August 30 through September 4, this free celebration of food and music will take over Spokane’s Riverfront Park. There’s no better way for a foodie to ring in the fall!
If the 50 food booths and 250 menu items weren't enough to pique your interest, then Pig Out's location will seal the deal. Spokane's beautiful Riverfront Park was the site for the 1974 Expo World's fair. It includes the Upper Spokane Falls (called "Stluputqu" by the local Spokane Tribe), which is considered the largest urban waterfall in the United States.
Over four decades, Pig Out In The Park has served almost four million visitors. Thanks to the effort of one primary promoter, Bill Burke, the festival has become a huge boon to the Spokane community.
It's estimated that the annual economic impact of the event is over $7 million every year, with $100,000 going directly to the city! Pig Out gives back in other ways, too. As the celebration has scaled up in size, organizers have donated almost $225,000 to nearby food banks and hunger-prevention campaigns.
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Pig Out prides itself on being a diverse event that welcomes everyone, and it's only getting bigger. In 2022, the festival drew its largest crowd yet, attracting around 122,000 people in only six days.
Organizers make their event inclusive by appealing to all budgets. Many vendors offer "happy hour" prices where diners can enjoy discounted menu items. During a previous year, Pig Out listed some of their meals for only $3! These included nachos, stir-fried soba noodles, fried rice, and habanero-infused watermelon.
The range of vendors at Pig Out In The Park means all visitors will find what they've been craving. Your attendance will also support local business owners. Over the years they've been putting on the event, Pig Out's organizers estimate they've worked with over 295 small and family-owned businesses.
Don't forget about the music! The festival has always done its best to attract talented performers and the names keep getting bigger. Since they started putting on shows 42 years ago, organizers estimate that the total value of Pig Out's entertainment has reached around $30 million. Attendants get to experience all that talent for free!
The people have spoken: for the last few years, Spokanites have voted for Pig Out In The Park as their favorite local festival. If you find yourself with the end-of-summer blues this Labor Day Weekend, head out and experience it for yourself! This iconic Washington event may become your favorite, too!
We at Only In Your State love connecting locals to incredible events in their backyards. As our rainy Washington winter looms large, celebrate summer’s end at Pig Out, the most beloved food festival in Spokane, Washington. The iconic event is sure to satisfy your cravings for food and community. With the National Geographic ranking Spokane as one of the best cities in the country, it’s worth staying the night and exploring the town. Pig Out In The Park lasts six days anyway, so you might as well stick around!
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