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Twenty-two years ago, a small group of people saw that the town of Morrilton had a problem. The city was in need of something to raise the overall morale, something that would bring the town together for a time and be just good clean fun. So the first squeal of an idea came to start a festival. Many small towns in Arkansas have festivals throughout the year, so why did Morrilton have to be any different. So, when the second week of August rolled around, the first Great Arkansas Pig Out was launched. The festival, the concerted effort of volunteers and sponsored by the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce, kicked off at Sacred Heart Catholic School with a dinner and then moved itself down to its current location, the City Park. Here, the fun really started rolling. In the park, there where all sorts of booths containing vendors offering things from arts and crafts to face painting to the main thing people think of when they think of Pig Out, food. There was food enough to feed a host of thousands. There was barbeque, homemade ice cream, gumbo, watermelon, sausage on a stick, hamburgers, lemonade, shrimp? Almost anything a person wanted could be found along the wall of the old gymnasium. And if that wasn't enough, the Pig Out Committee also sponsored a hot dog eating contest and watermelon eating contest. The Great Arkansas Pig Out was living up to its name. Additionally, there were games and live entertainment to raise the level of fun to a fever-pitch. And what would a festival with a pig as its mascot be without a muddy, slippery Pig Chase? With all this fun, food, and entertainment and the thousands that came to participate, the Great Arkansas Pig Out had ensured success and return the next year.

How big a success had the Pig Out been? The next year, the Pig Out was extended to a three day festival. August 9, 10, and 11 were set to be the fun-filled days of Pig Out. The same traditions were continued through that were started the first year. Food, fun, and family were and still are the main focus of the Pig Out. This same pattern was established for the next 11 years. And as the festival grew, so did the quality of the entertainment. From Jerry Reed to Cledus T. Judd (No relation) to The Kinley?s, the Pig Out has continually provided free concerts of up-and-coming and classic favorites of the country music world. And in turn, as the entertainers grew more famous, so to did the Pig Out. This is epitomized with the appearance of the British Broadcast Company or BBC. In 1998, the BBC sent a crew over to film the goings-on of the Pig Out. Be it for fun or profit, the Pig Out has now gained an international presence.

Along with the crowds and entertainment, the food and craft vendors and the children?s activities have grown to accommodate crowds that can and often have easily multiplied Morrilton?s population four or five times. Professional food vendors now come in offering an array of new taste treats. Ranging from classic funnel cakes and hamburgers to chicken-on-a-stick and fried Twinkies, the Pig Out lives up to the expectations of all that hear its name. There is more than ample opportunity to go hog wild and pig crazy on food. The crafts grow every year with all sorts of neat intricacies and nick-knacks along with t-shirts, furniture, and the occasional water balloon yo-yo. The Pig Out has offered to its patrons a wide array of these crafters and has done so throughout its long history. And the kids aren?t forgotten either. Every year the Pig Out has brought in kid-friendly entertainers, slides and rides, and activities such as the Dino-Dig and face painting. The Great Arkansas Pig Out Committee strives to make the festival as much fun for the kids as it is for the adults.

The Pig Out has also got the corner on the realm of sports. Every year the Pig Out has had a tennis tournament and 5k run. As the years progressed, so did the number of sporting events. There is now the Pig Dig; a co-ed volleyball tournament, The Tour-de-Oink; a roughly 40 mile long bike race, and an old favorite that has come back after a break, the Horseshoe Tournament. These are all well stocked with athletes but these aren’t the most entertaining. By far the most entertaining, and highly anticipated, sporting event is the annual Pig Chase. There is nothing more fun than watching scads of children chase after a pig in a HUGE pile of mud. It is good, clean fun at its dirtiest.

The Pig Out has made many changes through the years, from adding and taking away some attractions to changing the very length of the festival itself. In 2001, the Pig Out was once again shortened to a two day festival. This was to maximize the amount of events in a day and to keep the people entertained the whole time instead of spreading it out. And the first weekend in August isn?t the coolest time of year in Arkansas, as it is. There were concerns that such a change would hurt the Pig Out, but as it turns out, the crowds were just as large and the vendors were just as happy. Though the festival was shortened by a day, the numbers still grew. As of last year, the Pig Out had attracted more than 30,000 people? On Saturday alone!

For 19 years GAPO had historically been held the first weekend of August however several folks in the community felt that this was just too HOT! In 2007 GAPO changed the festival to the last weekend in June.

The Pig Out has had a long history filled with food, fun, and lots of bad piggy jokes. But it has been a success every year, even when it rained. And the most amazing thing about it all? The festival has been continually planned and prepared for by volunteers. Everyone on the Pig Out committee is taking time out of their life to plan and work the Great Arkansas Pig Out. And that speaks loads about the people of a town of six thousand that can attract 30,000 -+ others to come and visit! So, we here at the Pig Out Committee hope to see you this year at the 22st Annual Great Arkansas Pig Out!