Looking back at those ribs!

I think this is what they envisioned when the concept of “Pork in the Park” was created five or so years ago.

Apparently the first three editions of this event were marred by poor weather. I can vouch for the last two years – 2005 was cloudy and chilly and 2006’s effort was pretty much rained out. But Saturday dawned and the forecast was for sunny and warm weather. Here’s a shot of the festival pretty much when it opened.

I was a little bit surprised when I reported in to volunteer for the event. I was expecting to do garbage detail but they needed me to man the competitors’ gate instead. Apparently the park/rec folks do the garbage, which is understandable. I didn’t take a picture to shame them, but as the day wore on it was apparent they were a little outgunned.

By 2:00 or so when I got a break to grab a drink (and put on more sunscreen!), I could tell the crowds were outstanding (no pun intended). Here’s shots of the entrance line to get in and at some of the rib servers.

And it goes without saying that a big thank you goes to the Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Company and Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department for their help. Aside from a little girl who must’ve hurt herself falling, there were no incidents I noticed that needed their attention. But it was good to have them about just in case.

So I eventually finished my shift at the gate and got to enjoy the festivities (and finally eat some ribs! I didn’t want to take a long lunch.) I have just one quibble with the volunteer coordinators, though. I think they forgot that I was doing the gate and it wasn’t until almost 6:00 that I had to ask for my relief. I don’t mind running a bit over if someone is running late but an hour’s a little beyond the call. Just something to keep in mind for the 2008 edition. I’ll still volunteer, all I ask is keep that in mind!

Here’s another shot I took. I was actually in the line for Smokin’ Dudes BBQ when I took this along the vendor’s row.

Of course, there was music there and you know I had to scope it out. I only was over there for about a third of the Couch Potatoes (first picture below) but was finished eating and present for pretty much all of the Melanie Mason Band (second picture below.) We should also thank Queen Anne’s County, this stage is actually their mobile stage.

There’s just something about a rib festival that lends itself to having blues-based music there. Melanie Mason and her band filled the bill quite well, so I sat and listened with a belly full of ribs and beer.

Now for some of my wish list for 2008. Having a three-day festival is definitely a good idea. I’d love to have a couple other rib joints both perform the contest and serve the public. Having only three rib vendors serve made the lines way too long. There was the market for at least six or seven. (Part of this wish is being most familiar with the Northwest Ohio Rib-Off, a similar annual event where over 20 vendors serve ribs. Granted, the Toledo area is five times the size of Wicomico County.)

Another couple suggestions came to mind because of the parking problems I saw. Part of my job was directing overflow handicap parking to park along the lane winding back into the park. A problem some had that did get the designated handicapped spaces was negotiating the gravel parking lot. Perhaps the county can find a few thousand dollars and pave the handicapped parking area and add a few more spots – hopefully we’ll have a few years of good weather to make up for the event’s first three.

The second suggestion is semi-related. I went to the Shorebirds game on Sunday and the crowd there was, well, pretty miserable. (It was great for taking pictures though as you’ll see tomorrow.) Because the Pork in the Park date is pretty much cemented in now as the third weekend in April (next year it would fall between April 18-20), it may be to the Shorebirds’ advantage to have the South Atlantic League schedule them away that weekend. Also, this would open up an opportunity to use the Shorebirds’ parking lot and shuttle folks back and forth (if Shore Transit would cooperate.)

So that’s the wrapup for Pork in the Park 2007. And like I said to start, I think this is what the folks at the Wicomico Convention and Visitor’s Bureau envisioned when the event was launched. I know I enjoyed it a lot!