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THE 2005 LABADIE PIG GIG - Bigger &
Better Than Ever
August 4th - 7th, 2005 The Labadie Pig Gig presented by State Farm is set to kick off August 4th through the 7th in Veteran's Memorial Park in Bay City. Covenant HealthCare, Dow Chemical and Meijer have joined with Labadie & State Farm and other local sponsors to make sure that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bay County along with other area charities will have another successful fundraising weekend.
Advanced tickets are now on sale
and allow half off discounts if purchased in advance at
Labadie and participating State Farm agents.
Labadie Pig Gig guests can purchase their
daily tickets for just $5.00 for Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Saturday's tickets
are $10.00 in advance. Daily admission at the gate will be $10.00
for Thursday, Friday and Sunday and $20.00 for Saturday.
This Championship Rib Cook-off is the
setting for national competitors vying for the title of "The Best in the
Midwest". The event welcomes rib champions from around the country and
even from around the world, as the Aussom Aussie returns again!
Competitors so far includes Famous
Dave's of Saginaw, Desperado's of Hinkley, Ohio, Porky and Beans of Port
Saint Lucie, Florida, Bone Daddy's of Midland, Mountain Town Station of
Mount Pleasant, Texas Thunder of Euless Texas and more!
As in the past, open voting for the
public will be conducted to choose the Sprint People's Choice Award!
Sprint phones will be provided on-site to use to tally the votes.
The Labadie Pig Gig will also feature on-going entertainment on the S.C. Johnson Family Stage. The family fun will be non-stop and just as hot as the ribs we're serving up all weekend long. Magic shows, clowns, dance and musical performances will delight young and old alike. In addition, a special appearance will be made by Ronald McDonald courtesy of Larry & Diana Peters of the Bay City McDonalds. Do a little performing yourself and sing karaoke with Jay Samborn Entertainment!
A new addition this year features The
Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show. This show boasts World Record
Champions who have been seen on ESPN, OLN & ABC Sports. A highlight of
the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show is the oldest Champion Lumberjack in the
World! Jim Hunt, from New Zealand is 73 years old and holds the
World's Record for the most accurate chopping. He can hit a log twice
every second. There will also be logrolling, ax throwing, carving and
more! This show is historical, educational, humorous and filled with
audience
Pig Racing also returns to the Labadie
Pig Gig. Several individual races each day will provide fun you can bet
on. Back by popular demand, the pig races offer our guests the chance to
bet on their favorite pig bringing home the bacon. Additionally, this
year will witness the return of DIVING PIGS! Come out to catch
all the swine diving action! The Red Cross will host the races with all
proceeds donated to their fundraising efforts.
The support and assistance of the Labadie
Family helps to continue to make this event one of the premier
fundraisers of the Tri-City Area.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Bay County
will staff the "Kids Kraft" Center, which is sponsored by
Meijer. There will also be a Kids Workshop area compliments of
Home Depot. "Sand Art" and many more activities and contests
will be ongoing starting Thursday and continuing throughout the weekend.
Face painting will be available to transform all the kids into little
piggies for the day! Also returning after a great turn-out last year is
the 30-foot Rock Climbing Wall, the popular Kids Bubble
Machine and Fun Inflatables, pie eating contest, watermelon seed
spitting and watermelon eating contests!
Of course, the most significant aspect of
the Labadie Pig Gig is the fundraising effort for the Boys and Girls
Clubs and other participating charities. With the efforts of volunteers
and the continued support of sponsors and patrons throughout the years
this endeavor has raised over $450,000 for worthwhile charities.
Live nightly entertainment this year kicks off on Thursday, August 4 th with Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band that showcases Caribbean Island musical fun.Friday August 5th will feature oldies legend Gary Puckett, formerly of the Union Gap and an artist that hit big nationally with such hits as Woman, Woman, Young Girl, Lady Willpower and Over You.
Saturday, August 6th
will witness the Bay City appearance of Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton,
promising a truly memorable musical event.
Country star Jay Anderson closes
out the entertainment on Sunday August 7th
by performing many of his hits such as Seminole Wind, Straight
Tequila Night and Swingin'.
The Labadie Pig Gig will again
this year host a "Celebrity Rib Challenge" in which local media
personalities compete against each other with their own "secret recipe"
to win "The Best Celebrity Ribs". Proceeds generated during this
competition will be donated to worthwhile charities in the area. The
general public can try the ribs specially prepared by their favorite
local celebrity and vote for their favorite. Last year's winner was
Johnny Burke of Oldies 96, 2nd Place was taken by Greg
Favarra, Darrin Bradley, & Eric Jyhla of WNEM TV 5 with
Mark Torregrossa of WEYI 25 a close 3rd
place.
According to Wendy Dore, the
festival organizer, "The success of the Labadie Pig Gig Presented by
State Farm is a result of the support of our sponsors, community
organizations, media, city officials and volunteers who all contribute
their time and effort to make it possible to raise even more funds for
our worthwhile charitable groups."
National Entertainment Headlines 2005 Pig Gig
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