Climax gearing up to ‘celebrate the pig’
Published 10:55 am Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Climax Community Club President Phillip Dodson says that this Saturday, Nov. 26, will be another fine time for Swine Time.
Booked as “festivities, contests and events celebrating the pig,” the Climax Community Club has been hosting the Swine Time Festival on the Saturday following Thanksgiving since 1975. It not only celebrates the pig, but has put Climax on the map of Georgia festivals and events, attracting large crowds each year.
Swine Time is also a money-maker. Dodson said all proceeds go back into organizations serving the larger community, such as the Climax Volunteer Fire Department, Friendship House of Jesus and the library, to name a few. Dodson said it also helps individuals and families in need, such as those who have been burned out of their homes.
Dodson reports that the club members have been working on building maintenance and repair issues since September, that the grounds are looking good, and that he expects ideal weather, with temperatures cool enough to keep the gnats at bay.
Attractions of the day begin with a 5-K run from the Swine Time Fairgrounds at 8:30 a.m.
A large parade down main street begins at 10 a.m. It will be led by U.S. Army Private First Class Ian Edge, as grand marshal. Edge, originally from Brinson, was seriously injured when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while serving as a medic in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. The selection committee, who had honored fallen military in last year’s parade, felt it only right this year to honor and salute a local young man who has sacrificed much to serve his country.
The historic buildings — an 1850s log cabin, old depot, old courthouse, school, and the original voting precincts that have been moved to the grounds this year, are all open for touring and give a glimpse of life in the early days of Climax and Decatur County.
A quilting demonstration will be put on by the Sew and Sew quilting ladies in the old depot. The quilts made are donated for raffle and auction and are always hotly pursued items.
Other demonstrations are corn shucking and syrup making.
Contests offer many opportunities for festival attendants to get into the action. Publicity chairman Carlton Eakin gave the approximate times as: baby crawling contest at 11:15 a.m.; best-dressed pig at 11:30; chitterling eating at noon; hog calling at 12:15 p.m.; longest distance traveled at 1 p.m.; and the big crowd pleaser is the greasy pig chase at 2:30 p.m.
Drawing for the quilt is at 2 p.m.
There will be plenty of arts-and-crafts and food vendors available all day, as well as music and entertainment.