Last weekend, I went to my first-ever pig roast, dubbed “Swinefest 2009″ in Pine Plains, New York. The affair included four roasted pigs, 40 kegs of beer, and fireworks so close I tasted ash on my beer. It was all miraculous!
Apparently, these huge gatherings centered around a barbecue and hillbilly music — we camped at the edge of a cornfield and woke up to the lyrics, “she was rocking the beer gut” blasting from a pickup truck — are fairly common in the Midwest, and Kelly had been to more than her share of them. Yet, as a newbie and a creature of city-life, I enjoyed it. I even took part in the dance party under a white tent filled with hay to the Jock Jam beats of Sublime and Blink 182.
Nothing says, “we’re no longer in New York City” than standing on top a picturesque hill overlooking the beautiful Catskill mountains and all of Hudson Valley in full greenery with the smell of burnt flesh in the air and a bottomless plastic cup in your hand.
Jake watching fireworks.
Emily.
Lindsay.
Peter. The stroller is empty; his wife ran home with their 4-week-old baby before the explosions started.
Emily, getting the full exposure.
Did I mention there was a bonfire the size of a house?
With a burning boat on top?
The timeless pastime of watching fire burn.
Badass.
See you next year!
incredible.
i’m so sad i wasn’t there!!
I’m sad too, kt! We missed everyone who wasn’t there.
Absolutely gorgeous photos, Tanveer. I keep coming back to look and it’s making it that much easier to remember the smell of the fireworks and heat of the fire. Thanks for keeping it alive.
Firstly, nice pictures. Secondly, this event is called “Swinestock” not Swinefest…
Yes, it’s a hillbilly-esqe party but it’s truly a scholarship fundraiser in honor of friends and family who have passed and are still dearly missed.
Specifically, a gentleman named Jermey.
In his honor, this party has come to evolve from simply a keg on top of hill with a fire, to this ‘fest’ you witnessed.
Please ask the person who invited you to explain further.
thanks for coming, not sure if there will be a next year
_ianpg
@_Ianpg. Glad you enjoyed the photographs. Please note that this journal is simply my interpretation of certain events that happen in my life, highlighted by a series of images. It’s not meant to be a official news source or definitive documentary of any sort. “Swinefest” was how I choose to dub an event that, to me, was a “festival” based around the theme of “swine.” I cannot claim to know, nor wish to express, any additional information that isn’t relevant to the theme of my journal.
Thanks for your comment.