Hogfest
Hogfest - A great motorcycle rally near Pelham, TN: Sow Sucking. Music, Events and great parks nearby.
Hogfest is a motorcycle rally located near Pelham, Tennessee. It is still a fairly young rally, but a good one. I have been to several and this one is still one of my favorites.
If you are anywhere in Eastern Tennessee, or northern Georgia, Hogfest is not far away. It is about three hours from Knoxville, Tennessee and about two hours from Nashville, Tennessee. Just get on your scooter and head on over. Hogfest of Pelham is just off of Interstate 24 on Highway 50.
The first time I attended Hogfest, one of my favorite games was the oil wrestling. Some of the ladies wrestled in oil in a small swimming pool. That was fun! Another unique event held at Hogfest is the Sow sucking contest. This is one you just have to see. Words cannot describe it accurately.
Hogfest is held three times a year. The spring rally is normally held over Memorial Day weekend. The summer rally is normally in July, and the fall rally in normally held in September. My favorite of the three so far is the one held in the spring. It's a three day weekend which gives you one more day to have a great time with your friends and new friends you’re bound to meet.
Hogfest is not a huge rally. The showers are a little bit of a walk (or ride) from the campgrounds, and are not what some would consider 'modern', but they serve the purpose, and can even be entertaining. There are plenty of porta-potties all over the campgrounds, so restroom breaks are not a problem.
I estimate the number of people attending this last fall to be about 500. This low turnout was mainly due to weather. It was unseasonably cold and rained almost the entire weekend. Luckily, I had my Awning and was able to fit both my motorcycle, and my chair under it, so was able to stay dry. The first spring Hogfest rally I attended had at least 2 to 5,000 people I estimate. Even though there were a large number of people attending, it didn't seem crowded at all. I have been to Hogfest three times. I plan to continue going to as many as I am able to.
There is a large plot of land available for camping, fun and of course the games and events. Even with a high population, there seems to be plenty of space to go around. There are more RVs attending recently, but they don't seem to encroach on the tent campers. If your tent camping at Hogfest, you shouldn't have a problem finding a flat spot. The camping is on flat land and is well shaded. I have been fortunate enough to get a spot right along the treeline with already cut firewood nearby.
A nice, twisty ride is just to the east of Hogfest. Follow Highway 50 East toward Altamont where you'll find a short, but fun run of great twisties. Rock Island state park is a nice ride just northeast of the Hogfest Motorcycle rally. Just ride north on I-24, jump off on Highway 127 northbound, catch Highway one out on McMinnville and follow the signs. It is a small park, but the cascading waterfalls are very nice. There are trails for those who are feeling a little more adventurous. The park is only about a 2 to 3 hour ride from Hogfest, so you can enjoy a great ride, the park, and be back in time for the festivities.
The stage is setup very nice at Hogfest. You can walk right up to edge of it (if you can squeeze in between the crowd). The bands I have seen have been very good. Some of the other shows held on stage allow you to get up close and personal too!
A huge bonfire near the middle of the field lit up the skies the first time I went to Hogfest. This was a great addition to the fun we were already having. Although we didn't need the additional heat, a good campfire with a large crowd really adds to the camaraderie.
There was free beer on tap Saturday night (as long as it lasted). This may not be a recurring event, but there were a number of people who were enjoying it. It kindof reminded me of people standing around the water cooler at a place of work. Several conversations were started and new friendships were born.
I will definitely be going back to this one. Hogfest is a great rally and the folks there are fantastic.
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