Pig Out in the Park

What is Pig Out In the Park? Well, lets see... Delicious food from more than 40 different Spokane restaurants with nothing priced over $8.95.

Musical entertainment from over 50 bands taking place in two different concert venues in Spokane's Riverfront Park. What more could you ask for?

It all takes place Labor Day week. Six days of great food and music!

I know what you must be thinking, the admission must be expensive for all of this fun and entertainment. Right?

Wrong! It's all free. Even the parking is free if you park at the Spokane Arena parking lot. It's on only a short 5 minute walk to the park from there.

This feeding frenzy started in 1979 and it's been going ever since. The organizers originally held it at the end of September but as often happens around Spokane the weather did not cooperate. They ended up changing the date to it's present time which is the week leading up to Labor Day weekend. Seattle has Bumbershoot. Spokane has Pig Out in the Park.

The original intent of the event was to promote local businesses and to help to reinvigorate the local community and downtown Spokane. This hasn't changed over the years in fact, according to organizer Bill Burke, it is estimated that Spokane and the surrounding area pulls in about $4.7 million.

The free admission fee is made possible by the sponsorship of some very generous donors. In 2009 the cost to put on Pig Out was about $320,000.

The food is provided by 42 restaurants both local and from outside the area. They say that about 35% of the venders are new to the event.

The cool thing about the food is that it promotes cultural and ethnic diversity in Spokane.

You can find everything from Chinese, Bavarian, Spanish, Russian you name it you'll find something to satisfy your craving.

That's only half of it, the music is a huge part of Pig Out. Every year the music acts that come get better and better. Over the years they have presented over 1175 free concerts!

Because the reputation of Pig Out has grown over the years they are able to attract some really great bands such as The Tubes (above), WAR, John Mayall, Tower of Power, and Bo Diddley to name just a very few.

Of coarse there are many local and regional bands that help make up the roster. Names like Too Slim and Taildraggers and Jr Cadillac are local favorites.

They have also improved the music venues in the last few years. They now have two large festival stages with roofs which make it possible to put on shows even if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Pig Out is one of Spokane's biggest cultural events of the year and it really helps to bring people together. After all, food and music is something we can all relate to. If you are in town around Labor Day, head to Riverfront Park and check it out.

Click here to get the complete official Pig Out schedule.