Outdoor Wednesday: BBQ Scenes, The Many Faces and Facets of Pig Fest

Howdy, Partner! Today is Outdoor Wednesday at my friend's Susan's blog, A Southern Daydreamer, and I want to take you on a little trail ride of the event that I described to many of you on Pink Saturday. The event is better known as the Lakeland Pig Fest, held the last weekend in January each year. So don a pair of comfortable boots and join Miss Piggy and me for a quick tour...



On Saturday, I introduced you to the beautiful pink pig above. Just look at those eyelashes! They are on a pig that is actually a BBQ cooker...



This contest is part of the Florida State Championship, and over 30,000 people attend with well over a hundred teams in several divisions, including Pro Teams, Backyard Teams, and Children's Teams. If it's okay with Susan, I'm going to start inside at the judges station and work my way out. Here is my friend Ilse, doing a good job in trying to get the judges rounded up and organized...



Some of our judges dressed with just a pop of pink...



Or were a little more daring, sporting pink pig necklaces and fun hats (note to Ms. Hare, this couple have rescued greyhounds!)...



Some even founded Lakeland's Christmas Parade and then went on to become civic leaders in the community...



And all were excited about their assignment, "Go forth and judge!" My partner is in the blue jacket, and she's a veritable Miss Congeniality which made it nice when you are there to welcome people and judge them on the basis of hospitality...



Several of us were judges on Saturday night for the Pro Teams, and in the process of walking around that division, look who we spied...



Recognize him? Okay, I admit, it's kind of blurry. My camera decided to act up on me, and I was kind of short to be getting a good picture from this vantage point, but take a close look at this one...



Anyone familiar with the Naked Chef? If you are, then you must know Jamie Oliver from the Food Network. That would be our man here and also our celebrity guest! Jamie was not naked, but he was definitely a chef and was busy cooking up the most fantastic chocolate cake! Actually, the term "Naked Chef' refers to great food that is presented simply. Also a cookbook and a television program.

I missed my fifteen minutes of fame from not being at Jamie's talk that was featured on the Food Network (which, being camera shy, I didn't mind one bit), but some of my friends might well be featured. I can't wait to see them! :-) I was busy judging contestants while my friends were listening to him. When we took these pictures, Jamie Oliver was racing around his mobile kitchen, and this cake was barely there before he snatched it up and dashed across the street to another building for a shoot, camera crew in his wake. Poor guy, that night, he was more like the Racing Chef...



We visited for a bit with some of his assistants -- one from London, England (the girl in the black lace dress) and one from Edinburgh, Scotland (the girl in the white blouse and apron) -- and they were so cordial. Then we got a picture of the three female staffers along with the guy who is Jamie's photographer. I bet the photographer is not used to being on the other end of a camera, but he handled it well...



And here were some of the pots and pans Jamie used in preparing that chocolate cake. Oh, how I wanted to lick the bowl and that spatula, but I behaved and didn't embarrass myself (or you) in that way...



My camera was really being naughty, and the other pictures I got that night were these. On the way over to the VIP Party (as a judge, you got to go to this), we spotted things like this pig...



And this crazy display...



This shot was at the VIP Party where people were having a good time. Check out Alina's hat...



The band for that evening was the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and they were hoppin' good. I took this shot from the side of the stage and behind the barricades of the VIP area. Out in front were huge crowds of Pig Fest attendees...



Next day, I donned my pink pig cap...



And went down that afternoon to help count Pig Bucks...



I'll introduce you to the president of the Pig Fest Board who happens to be Addie's mom, Cece (you saw her in her dress up clothes last week as she's who got the birthday present with the pink ribbons). Poor Cece had a phone glued to her ear for days on end...



And here's Cece and a friend in the Pig Buck "Counting House" counting out the money...



And some more "Counting House" volunteers. This was serious business in this room, folks. Concentration was key...



And here's one of the ladies who co-chaired the Jr. League Pig Fest Committee that wo-manned the event with volunteers. She must have been exhausted, but she was also happy...



And here's a handful of the multitude of volunteers that made this event happen, still smiling though it's late in the day...








Even at five o'clock, people were still buying Pig Bucks and hanging out at on the stadium grounds. I took this shot from waaaaaaay in the back corner as the crowd had started to move forward toward the stage area for the presentation of the trophies...



Once the crowd thinned out, I could get in and get some other shots, like this one of a pro team's past trophies...



Or these shots of piggies...




Or this one of a team sign...



Would you look at that blue, blue Florida sky! As I mentioned before, we had absolute Chamber of Commerce weather. It was a little chilly, but the sun was shining brightly overhead while the temps were pleasant. Everyone seemed to have fun!

And here's a past Pig Fest Chairman (I directed her wedding years ago) and the city's coordinator who is invaluable...



Gina is on a family team that was competing in the Backyard Division. She's sporting a pretty pink apron and one of those fancy pig necklaces, too...



And among the guests were these cute munchkins, sitting on a curb enjoying ice cream cones in January. Imagine that!



And these two sweetie-pies in their tandem stroller...



And just as I got ready to take a picture of this bad little, sweet little pooch (check out his shirt), a pig-tailed pink angel toddled over and bent down to give him a kiss (and my camera jammed the moment she did)...



Check this out... see that foot in the picture above? That foot belongs to the pink angel's mom who has on her FLIP-FLOPS! Did I not tell you that you know it's winter in Florida when people go to Publix in their flip-flops and socks! And she doesn't even have on her socks! Maybe she's from Canada. That's what we always say when people can brave the cold in the Atlantic or the Gulf. Those folks are intrepid! I had dinner with someone from there tonight, and we discussed this very thing. I was shivering in flannel, while she was in a cotton blouse. ;-)

And there were other well mannered pooches like this handsome boxer...



These sweet as can be labs...



This prissy little yorkie...



And this smart little dachsund who stole not only my heart, but had everyone in line gowing awwwwwwww...



Hey, little fella, what do you think about these...



And look, here are the blue ribbon trophies...



"I'll tell you what I think," says Oscar, says he,"I think the real winner here is the community, particularly its children."



"It's they who stand to benefit most from all of these people's largesse of heart! And hey, now that I've answered your question, I've been standing on my hind legs forever, so how about giving me a treat! Maybe a ribsickle or better yet, a pig ear!" ;-)

Oscar's dad opted to buy him some ice cream instead.

And that, my friend, is a wrap! Pig Fest brought home the bacon again this year. Congratulations to the Jr. League of Greater Lakeland, the Pig Fest Board, and all of the volunteers including Girls, Inc., and those from the city of Lakeland on a job well done! Hats off to the sponsors and teams, too, for without them, this event would not be possible!

That's it for my Outdoor Wednesday offering. Thank you so much for visiting. I look forward to visiting you at your blog, too. And for more Outdoor Wednesday goodness from the other participants, please go to Susan's blog, A Southern Daydreamer, by clicking here. You'll be so happy you did!



Quintessentially,


Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)


P.S. It just dawned on me... out of all of the pictures I got, I didn't get any of the actual FOOD other than the ice cream cones and the chocolate cake! What on earth does that say??? LOL! Pat, I hope you're not too disappointed. ;-)