Hendersonville’s Pig Fest is scheduled for Oct. 22-24 at Veterans Park, with proceeds benefiting Mary’s Magical Place, Grace Place Ministries and Christmas 4 Kids, the Hendersonville Standard reports. The festival began in 2020 to help Christmas 4 Kids continue its work during pandemic restrictions. The Standard says the 2025 event raised $74,000 for local charities and schools.
A festival beneficiary at the park
Mary’s Magical Place is a 15,000-square-foot inclusive playground at Veterans Park. The City of Hendersonville says it was built in memory of Mary Elizabeth McAuley, who died in 2015 at age 14 from complications related to cerebral palsy. Separately from the festival schedule, the city lists dedicated playground hours for people with special abilities and their families on Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. and Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m.
Christmas 4 Kids’ history predates the festival: the nonprofit says it was established in 1982 as Christmas Caravan and later became Christmas For Kids, Inc. The city reports that Hendersonville had 61,753 residents in the 2020 U.S. Census; that figure is a census count, not a current population estimate.
Three days of scheduled events
Thursday’s program includes a ticketed steak dinner, live auction and giveaways, according to the Pig Fest entertainment schedule. The Standard also reports that Jeff Jarrett’s All Star Super Slam is planned for that evening. Jarrett, who is marking 40 years in wrestling, is set for his second appearance in his hometown.
Diamond Rio headlines Friday’s Pig Fest Kick Off Concert, a special edition of the Hendersonville Hometown Jam. Jesse Keith Whitley, Tim Watson, Eric Blakenship, DJ Cliffy D and Juilanna Rankin are also scheduled to perform, the Standard reports.
Saturday’s barbecue competition is free to attend. The Standard expects more than 50 teams to compete in five categories for $10,000 in prize money. Its event report also lists pig races, vendors, a kids zone, a cornhole tournament, a par-3 contest, food trucks and college football on a large screen. Saturday’s program is also slated to include a Dinkville-hosted pickleball tournament on the city’s new courts and an art contest for Sumner County Schools students, according to the Standard.
