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38th annual Hogeye Festival to celebrate local flavor
The “best little pig gig in Texas” will cast a pink hue over downtown Elgin for the 38th time next weekend, bringing with it music, laughter and plenty of pork puns.
The 38th annual Hogeye Festival, hosted by the Elgin Main Street Program, is the city’s largest annual event and primary fundraiser for downtown improvement projects. The Oct. 23-25 celebration will draw thousands of visitors from across Texas to enjoy Elgin’s longstanding traditions — powered by an army of local volunteers known as “hogunteers.”
“Our goal is to make downtown feel like the heart of the community,” said Kristina Alvarez, Elgin Main Street Program manager. “People move here because they love that small-town charm. Hogeye is a big part of that identity.”
This year’s lineup includes beloved Hogeye favorites like Cow Patty Bingo, the BBQ Pork Cook-Off and the Road Hog Car and Bike Show. The Elgin Sowpremes will also return with their popular parody hits such as “P-OR- K in the U.S.A.” and “Hoofloose.”
“The sausage kind of started the whole thing, and we just ran with it,” Alvarez said. “Now it’s like every pig pun you could imagine — you’ll hear it. It’s all about making people feel welcome and safe and wanted in their downtown.”
Over the years, Hogeye has evolved from a small gathering into Elgin’s flagship festival and a major supporter of its downtown revitalization efforts.
Elgin joined the Texas Main Street City network in 1990 as part of a statewide goal to preserve historic downtowns. The event was originally called the Elgin Main Street Festival but was rebranded in honor of Hogeye Road, a legendary route leading into the city and a folk song once sung by local stage stop workers.
“The Main Street program itself started in the late 1970s because they were tearing down historic downtowns to build shopping malls and people thought, ‘Hey, we need to preserve this history because we can’t rebuild it,’” Alvarez said. “The money goes right back into making downtown more vibrant — whether that’s murals, benches, planters or helping a new business with signage or permits.”
Alvarez credited the festival’s success to its dedicated volunteers, noting that Elgin’s program has earned statewide recognition.
“I cannot brag about our volunteers enough. Elgin has become known for its volunteers — it literally is the town of Elgin that makes this festival possible,” she said. “It takes 100 people, minimum, to run this festival.”
Festivalgoers are encouraged to park at SPJST Hall and take the free shuttle downtown.
“The purpose is not only to preserve that history, but to make an economically viable downtown,” Alvarez said. “Because if your downtown has that vibe — it’s the heart of your community.”
