Public has chance to judge for People’s Choice

Twenty-six entries in this year’s Whole Hawg Days cookoff competition will be judged by two people who will determine the best pork butts, ribs and ham.

Chefs will fire up their cookers Friday evening at locations scattered around town as they get ready for the heated competition on Saturday.

The 40th Annual Whole Hawg Days festival is Friday and Saturday, July 2627.

A few chefs represent themselves in the cookoff, but most represent several organizations.

Lee Wallace and his crew smoked the competition last year, winning first place of $1,200 for Murry Carpet; third prize of $225 for Farmers State Bank; $200 for Best Ribs for Murry Carpet and $200 for the best Mystery Meat on behalf of Community Culture Church. The mystery meat was pigs’ feet.

This year Wallace will again be cooking for Farmers State Bank, Murry Carpet and Community Culture Church.

Eddie Hartwick and Robert Campbell, last year’s judges, will be the judges again this year.

For the first time in the 40-year history of this competition, the public can also be judges.

By paying $10, a person can sample the meats, side dishes and desserts and vote for their favorite in the People’s Choice Awards category.

This new event will take place on Saturday from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office, 301 N. Main St.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, judges Hartwick and Campbell will begin their judging of the meats at the Community Center.

At 5 p.m., free pork sandwiches will be given away at Community Culture Church.

While the cook-off remains the heart of Whole Hawg Days, several other events are extremely popular – including the Whole Hawg Poker Run, Whole Hawg Parade, Whole Hawg Car Show, Eufaula Band Boosters Art Show, an Arts & Crafts event hosted by the Eufaula Indian Community and the Eufaula Round-Up Club Rodeo.

The signature kick-off for Whole Hawg Days is the parade at 7 p.m. Friday. There is no entry fee. Floats line up at the high school at 6 p.m.

The theme of this year’s parade is Rosie the Riveter (or anything pig related).

First, second and third place trophies will be awarded.

Rodeo

There is a $10 admission charge for anyone seven and older.

The event takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the McIntosh County Fairgrounds. In addition to bronc busting, calf roping and bull riding, there will be mutton bustin’ and a calf scramble.

Car show

The Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce Whole Hawg Car show will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2nd and Golding streets.

Awards will go to 1st and 2nd place winners and to Best of Show and People’s Choice.

A cash drawing will be held every hour.

Poker Run

Registration for the Whole Hawg Days Poker run begins at 7 a.m. at Xtreme Cove Marina.

The Run starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. at Xtreme Cove Marina.

The poker runners are competing for $20,000, a figure based on at least 500 entrants.

In addition to Xtreme Cove Marina, other participants include Belle Starr Marina, Nine Marina, Evergreen Marina, Fountainhead Marina and Sammy’s Wake Shop.

Yard Sale

Under One Roof, 107 McKinley, will host a yard sale on Saturday starting at 7 a.m.

Whole Hawg Days at the EIC

The Eufaula Indian Community will host Whole Hawg Day events at their facility at 800 Birkes Rd. The public is invited to this freeof- charge event, which will start with an indoor arts and crafts show. The show will be from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., with various artists showing and selling their handmade items.

For the children and adults, face painting by Katherine Harjo will be available.

An Indian Taco Sale will be held at the Edna Belcher Nutrition Center next to the Indian community center from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m.

An invitation-only chair volleyball tournament, with players 55 and older, will begin a double elimination tournament.

Dance to end the Hawg Days

Whole Hawg Street Dance, sponsored by Providence on the Lake, Parker Brothers Roofing, Trustmark Title & Guild Mortgage. Foley Street. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.