By LOIS KINDLE
Festival-goers line up at one of the event’s 10 food vendors, who cooked up everything from slow-cooked ribs and chopped pork sandwiches to smoked mullet, burgers and fries. Lois Kindle photos.
The Damon Fowler Blues Band was this year’s opening act.
Charlotte Clark, co-owner of Off the Chain BBQ, slices some slow-cooked ribs.
Thousands of people turned out on May 20 for the seventh annual Pigs in the Parking Lot BBQ, Blues & Beer Fest at MiraBay Village Plaza in Apollo Beach.
Volunteers from the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort, or C.A.R.E, Shelter in Ruskin greet a visitor who brought along his dog to Pigs in the Parking Lot on May 20.
Kathy Wallin begins digging into a mound of food.
It was hot, it was sticky, but nobody seemed to care at last Friday’s annual Pigs in the Parking Lot BBQ, Blues & Beer Fest. Thousands of people turned out for the seventh annual event, which took place at MiraBay Village Plaza in Apollo Beach.
Visitors were treated to live music by the Damon Fowler Band and Two-Four-One, while 10 food vendors cooked up everything from slow-cooked ribs and chopped pork sandwiches to smoked mullet, burgers and fries. An additional 35 vendors showcased their commercial products and services, arts and crafts or nonprofit efforts.
“We had record-breaking attendance,” said Melanie Morrison, executive director of the SouthShore Chamber of Commerce. “There was never a lull in the crowd. We were packed the entire five hours.”
The free festival was sponsored by Keller Williams Realty SouthShore, Crossfit Apogee, Mosaic, Easy A/C, Lasting Impressions Laser and M&M Printing.
