By Gary Nager
It’s BAAAAACK…The Rotary Club of New Tampa and five other local Rotary Clubs (see below) will host the 10th annual Rotary PigFest on Saturday, February 22, noon-8 p.m. These local Rotary Clubs will be raising funds through fellowship and tasty food for local charities. The PigFest has morphed over the years from a small event exclusively for members of the New Tampa Rotary Club (which meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) to a larger, more inclusive community event held at different venues in New Tampa.
The 2014 PigFest will be held at Primrose Park, the same venue as the 2013 Taste of New Tampa. The park is located across from Liberty Middle School on Commerce Pkwy., behind the Primrose School of Tampa Palms. The New Tampa (Breakfast) Rotary Club is the event’s primary host, although president Peter Gambacorta says he is still finalizing this year’s involvement with th New Tampa Noon, New Tampa Evening, Wesley Chapel, Tampa North and Temple Terrace Rotary Clubs, as well as local Boy Scout troops. The PigFest will have tents, lighting and heaters if needed, to keep everyone comfortable.
The event will again feature pulled pork, roasted chicken and two sides for each attendee and there will be hot dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries and pizza by the slice for the kids. Coca-Cola products will be served and adults can enjoy fine and beer. The suggested donation for an adult admission ticket is still only $25 and children under 12 are admitted for $10.
The PigFest on Saturday afternoon and evening also will have great local name entertainment: the Bob Thompson Trio, Crabgrass Cowboys and, back by popular demand, the Freedom High Jazz Band.
The Rotary Club of New Tampa also will bring back its popular “reverse raffle” for thousands of dollars in cash prizes. The odds are 11 to 1 that you will win something back. All profits go to local charities and nonprofits in our area. The PigFest also will feature family fun, such as Pig Races, musical entertainment and great BBQ and a special appearance by Bobo the potbellied miniature pig and his equally porky friends.
And, as we announced in our last issue, on Friday, February 21, 6:30 p.m., Gambacorta, who also is the owner of Private Chef of Tampa, will host a unique Wild Game Dinner at the same site. Among the wild game delicacies to be sampled at this special meal are Montana elk, wild boar, venison, and (for the less adventurous) roasted 1/2 chicken, fish fry, all the sides and salads, plus apple cobbler for dessert. Seating will be limited to the first 100 ticket purchasers only and the price will be just $50 each. Door prizes and auctions items will be offered, and there also will be entertainment.
All proceeds from the Wild Game Dinner will go to the Rotary Club of New Tampa Foundation, Inc. a 501(3) c corporation which spends all its proceeds each June to local non for profits.For more info, email peter@privatecheftampa.com, call 380-4014 or visit RotaryPigFest.com.
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