Members of the University of Mount Olive baseball team volunteered at the barbecue sale Saturday during the fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs in downtown Mount Olive. Sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, the N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned whole hog barbecue cook-off, benefits the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Children run up to give a high-five to Ollie Q. Cumber, Mt. Olive Pickle Co. mascot, Saturday during the fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Elianah Parris, 3, makes short work of a Mt. Olive Pickle Co. dill pickle. She and her family drove from Greenville to Mount Olive Saturday afternoon to attend the fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs. Sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, the N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned whole hog barbecue cook-off, benefits the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Participants at Saturday’s fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs could try to guess the number of pickles in this Mt. Olive Pickle Co. jar. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Zack Lee (left) and his band perform Saturday during the fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Rides on the popular Pickle Train helped raise funds for the Mount Olive Friends of the Parks during Saturday’s fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
People attending Saturday’s fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs could pose at pickle cutouts. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive students participated and volunteered during the fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swings held Saturday in the area around the Southern Bank Parklet. Sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, the N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned whole hog barbecue cook-off, benefits the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Julie Beck, left, Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce president, talks with people attending Saturday’s fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs. Sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, the N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned whole hog barbecue cook-off, benefits the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Elianah Parris, 3, flashes a quick smile and an enthusiast thumbs up when her dad Ottley asks if she enjoyed the Mt. Olive dill pickle she had just devoured.
“She will probably go back for another one,” he said.
The Parris family traveled to Mount Olive from Greenville Saturday afternoon to attend the fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs.
Held at the Southern Bank Parklet at the corner of South Center and East Main streets and sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, the N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned whole hog barbecue cook-off, benefits the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp.
“It (event) just popped up on upcoming events,” Parris said. “We were here for the (N.C.) Pickle Festival earlier this year. She loved it, and she loves pickles. So I decided to bring her.
“Nice weather today so a great day to get out of the house — get some outdoor time with the family. We haven’t gotten barbecue yet. We just got here about half an hour ago.”
The first thing Elianah wanted was a pickle.
“It is a nice small town,” Parris said. “I love this kind of stuff, to get out of the house and spend outdoor time — just enjoy it and enjoy the weather.”
It was definitely worth drive, he added.
“We want to get her on the Pickle Train and then find some barbecue, get something to eat and then just hang out and listen to some good music,” Parris continued.
Julie Beck, Chamber president and event organizer, said she was pleased with the turnout.
Over the past three years about $30,000 raised by the event has gone to the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. to help in downtown revitalization, she said.
“It has been really good to be able to do that,” Beck added. “We have already taken some of that money, and we have added park benches (downtown). We have added UMO (University of Mount Olive) banners. We had the Downtown Block Party. We added the flower planters.
“So as we get more money, we will do more things downtown.”
Beck said it will another week or two before she knows how much money this year’s event generated.
The cook-off attracted 15 cook teams compared to the 10 or 11 over the past years. Three other teams contacted Beck on Monday, Nov. 4, but it was too late for them to be added, she said.
Cooking began Friday night, followed by Saturday’s festival and barbecue sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Judges, certified by the N.C. Pork Council, came in at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The opening ceremony was held at 11 a.m. when the cook-off winners were announced.
They are: first place, Showtimes Legit Barbecue (that also won first place last year); second place, Fired Up Barbecue; and third place, Country Boys Grilling Team.
“We use official certified judges from the N.C. Pork Council,” Beck explained. “There is a whole set of criteria they are judging on. It is by taste, but it is also by presentation — how does the pig look, how does the setup look, the whole thing.
“There is a point system. The top three winners, first place got $1,200; second place, $600; third place, $300. But it also gives them points which also put them into the state championship for the N.C. Pork Council. So it is not just about the money and the bragging rights. It’s about getting those points.”
Following the judging, teams chopped up the barbecue and add sauces for the sale of barbecue sandwiches or barbecue by the pound.
There was no drive-through this year.
UMO baseball team members volunteered at the barbecue sale tent. Also volunteering at the festival were members of the university’s First-Year Experience freshman class.
It is a good way to blend the university with the downtown area, according to Beck.
“We are doing something different this year — we are only selling barbecue sandwiches and barbecue by the pound,” she said. “In the past we sold barbecue plates, but that is a whole lot more work. So we decided just to go with sandwiches this year.
“Last year we sold sandwiches and plates, and we sold so many sandwiches we thought let’s just try sandwiches this year.”
While pickles, pigs and swigs were the showcase, the event featured a variety of activities including two firsts – mechanical bull rides provided by Outlaw Ranch and the Double B Petting Zoo.
The local Southeastern Chapter of AACA (American Car Club of America) featured a cruise-in throughout the day.
Corn hole boards were set up for anyone who wanted to play.
There were arts and crafts vendors and food trucks.
R&R Brewing, part of the event planning team, sold craft beers including pickle beer.
Free Mt. Olive pickles were available.
Proceeds from $3 tickets to ride the Pickle Train benefited the Mount Olive Friends of the Parks.
Live music was provided by Zack Lee and his band and by the 42 West Band.
“We have added a few things we have not had in the past, and we could not have had more beautiful weather,” Beck said. “I mean upper 60s, sunshine — perfect weather for a fall festival. We love it.”
The goal is to attract about 3,000 people to attend and participate, she added.
“We are going hog wild, and it’s a big dill,” Beck joked. “We just roll around here, now that’s what we do. Of course, we couldn’t do this without our sponsors.
“We are especially appreciative of the town of Mount Olive, Southern Bank and Mt. Olive Pickle Co. because they play such a key role in letting us do what we need to do downtown here. So we are very appreciative of all that they do for us.”
