From the Hog Capital Barrow Show on Wednesday, Aug. 28, until the last pork sandwich is served on Labor Day, the Hog Capital Festival will offer food, fun and entertainment for people of all ages.
At the barrow show at Black Hawk College East Campus, this year’s “King Hog” will be named. The competition starts at 6 p.m.
Also taking place during Hog Days is the annual Labor Day Golf Tournament at Baker Park. More than $6,000 in prizes will go to men and women winners.
On Thursday, Aug, 29, the Kewanee Ministerial Association will hold its “Bless the Weekend/Thank You” luncheon on the green space west of PhatBoys Barbecue on West Third Street.
The C.D.A.C. Amusements will bring carnival rides to the downtown streets at 5 p.m. on Friday of Hog Days, and they will continue through Monday.
The World’s Largest Outdoor Pork BBQ begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Butterfly pork chop and pork patty sandwiches will be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. The cost has remained unchanged for several years at just $3 for a pork patty and $5 for a porkchop sandwich.
Liberty and West parks will be filled over the Hog Days weekend with the Hog Days Flea Market and Craft Show. The show, featuring many vendors, will start at 9 a.m. and run until dusk Saturday and Sunday. Some vendors will also be open on Friday and Monday.
The Kewanee Historical Society’s Museum at Second and Tremont streets will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Hog Festival Committee’s Pig Palace souvenir shop will be open at 306 N. Main St. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.; and from noon to 3 p.m. Monday,
Pony rides will be available in Chautauqua Park from 5-8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday through Monday.
The Great Shaddeni, a.k.a. Zach Shadden, will perform card tricks and sleight of hand from 6-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday near the RWE Clean Energy Stage.
Friday night’s entertainment, starting at 7 on the RWE Clean Energy Stage, is the classic country music of Stone Cold Cowboys. All stage shows are free of charge; those attending should bring lawn chairs.
Saturday’s activities start off with the Kewanee Public Library’s end of summer book sale on the parking lot at First and Chestnut streets.
The Hog Days Breakfast at the Senior Citizen Center, 200 E. South St., will be served from 7-10 a.m.
The first of two big Saturday events, the Hog Days Stampede, starts at 8 a.m. Saturday with a four-mile run, followed by a kids’ run at 9:30 and a one-mile run at 9:45.
Jason Hamilton the Magic Man will perform at West Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
An all-family carnival will be presented at Hill Church, 107 N. Main St., from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Tours of Ryan’s Round Barn in Johnson Sauk Trail State Park will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday’s second big event, the Hog Days Parade, steps off at 2 p.m. Starting in the area of Kewanee High School on East Third Street, the parade heads west on Second Street to Main Street, south on Main to Central Boulevard and ends at Irving School — a distance of about a mile.
The state champion Kewanee High School Boilermakers Band will perform after the parade at the main stage.
Also after the parade, Homestyle Acoustic will play in West Park.
Kaiden Leezer will perform from 3-6 p.m. Saturday on the green space next to PhatBoys BBQ restaurant.
Saturday’s entertainment on the RWE Clean Energy Stage will be provided by Decade of Decadence, an 80s party band.
On Sunday, the 38th annual Hog Wallow Mud Volleyball Classic begins at 8 a.m. at Chautauqua Park. This year’s tournament is a one-day event.
Chris Stevens will perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Park.
The 55th annual Ray Behnke Model T and Model A Rally begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Midland Plaza.
Live music by Ryan Smith will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday on the green space next to PhatBoys BBQ.
A non-denominational church service will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday on the main stage.
Jazz on the Side will perform from 2-4 p.m. Sunday on Tremont Street at the south end of Food Row.
Lewis Knudsen will offer live music from 3-6 p.m. at West Park.
Dave Berchtold and the Tucked In T’s will play from 3-6 p.m. on the green space next to PhatBoys BBQ.
From 4:30-6:30 p.m., the Five Bridges Jazz Band will play on Tremont Street at the end of Food Row.
Oh Yes! will play starting at 7 p.m. Sunday on the RWE Clean Energy Stage.
Monday’s events start with the fly-in breakfast from 7-11 a.m. at the Kewanee Municipal Airport, hosted by the Kewanee Community Fire Department.
The Incredible 45s will perform 60s and 70s rock and roll at the barbecue tent from noon to 2 p.m. Monday.
A variety of Kids Day activities will be offered in the Peoples National Bank parking lot at Third and Tremont streets from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
***This copy was edited to correct information about the Pig Plop. The Pig Plop normally held on Labor Day will not take place this year.
