The return of High on the Hog?

“Widespread support” out of how many people who responded to the survey? If only 50 people responded (I’m actually not sure, but don’t think it was in the hundreds), how widespread is that? And how many respondents just meant that they like to *go to* festivals and drink (LOL like a lot of neighbors!)? HOTH was put on by LOTS of volunteers, and I have a feeling that those same volunteers weren’t asked if they’d do so again….just saying…as a former volunteer…the Irish Festival takes a lot of volunteers, too, and I have to wonder if some of the respondents liked it, but don’t volunteer to help there, either….

I really don’t mean to sound negative, but I have to wonder how many of the folks on the board of CHA have any idea what it took to put on HOTH. Also how many of them actually volunteered to make it work back in the day. That includes staying up all night cooking pig. Or getting up at 5 a.m. to make cole slaw.

High on the Hog was a huge success because 1) it was run by the people who knew how to and what needed to be done: The food, bands, hot dog stand, BBQ sauce contest, the awesome t-shirts, and even Miss Hot Sauce were incarnations of a great group of guys and gals who are/were dedicated to the Church Hill Porch Club and 2) it was from the heart. In my opinion it became too big and underappreciated and then it wasn’t our great little backyard party anymore. I’m not sure if you can make that happen again just by saying “Let’s have High on the Hog”.

The Folk Festival conflicts with the HOTH date. Why the FF organizers initially chose that date knowing there was another big music festival is beyond me.

The organizers of of HOTH, in deference to the FF, ended up changing their date to another Saturday. Rain and bad PR information hurt the organizers two years in a row.

On a city wide scale, I think you’d find the crowd that goes to the FF is different from the ones that would go to HOTH.

Not trying to diminish the hard work previous volunteers put in during past HOTHs, but it is not like this is the only pig roast that ever happened. Perhaps what it needs to keep going is a little fresh interest and fresh blood. And if Libbie Hill Park neighbors are not interested, I bet Chimbo Park or Jefferson Park people might be.

Again, not to diminish the history of the event and the hard work of past folks, but the last couple tries before it faded away were not exactly Woodstock. It’s abandoned, let someone claim it and run with it… or let old and new make it as big and bad as it ever was.

if u take a look at libby hill park it seems to have weathered the multidecade turfing just fine. also the ass clench factor of the neighborhood has ratcheted up as more and more of the incoming neighbors seem to think they have moved into a defacto gated community. perhaps hoth has oinked its last but it was always about camaraderie and neighbors not us and them.maybe if people looked at each other with less of a jaundiced eye and more of a lets have a good time smile the good karma would return. until then its just blog fodder.buddycorbett

Houdon #13, why don’t you organize the neighbors there and contact the Church Hill Association at their email address?chassociation@gmail.com

I talked to someone tonight who, like me, has spent 25 years doing the grunt work on HOTH. She said she’d be glad to attend, but wanted nothing to do with the background planning (of which there was a LOT and is should be going on now if it’s to be held!), nor the day of event pouring beer, serving food, etc. However if a younger crowd was willing to put it on, she’d love to attend. I think there may be more of us around, too! So have at it! Please!

I would STRONGLY suggest that you not conflict with the folk festival, in spite of someone on here who said there are different people who attend that – I beg to differ. One of the reasons the date was changed for HOTH was that Chuck Wrenn, who booked the bands for HOTH, was also on the folk festival committee for music – that’s how much involvement there is in the folk festival from Church Hill in general. I have attended the folk festival, and it was a big conflict for me when HOTH was on the same date. Same with a LOT of people I know.

Again, please – have at it! Post back when you’re organized and have a date and bands! Good luck!

Background and current Position from the Church Hill Association and Style Weekly:

As we communicated to our membership last Thursday, the Publisher of Style Weekly met the CHA Board on 1st July and outlined a scenario to re-vitalize a very memorable and enjoyable music and BBQ festival here in Church Hill.
The CHA Board approved the proposed partnership with Style and we are now investigating how we could together bring back this “institution” in a way which would successfully fit in with today’s changing face of Church Hill, but still retain the critical essence of what was “High on the Hog”.

Prior to this meeting Style had been, and remain today, in contact with the Principals of High on the Hog to gauge their feelings for bringing back such a festival. Whether they feel comfortable in allowing the name to be used will emerge as discussions take place.

The general “thrust” of the agreement between us and Style is different from the previous way of promoting the Festival, as in prior years the organizers did all of the heavy “grunt work”.

Our agreement calls for:
Style Weekly: will coordinate licenses, permitting, vendor relations, advertising and media, band selection, parking management, ticketing, and all food and drink, and clean up after-wards.
Importantly they would take all the financial risks and no funding would be expected from the CHA.
The CHA: would provide input into the organization of the festival, apply for all licenses, organize and provide logistical support on the day to include: checking people in/out, check proof of age and man drink/ beer stands, and help in the clean-up etc)

In the last week various approaches have been made, and meetings set up with the past and current “interested” parties to discuss how we could work with them to overcome concerns, many of which have been raised here in the past few days.

Be assured, Style Weekly has had great success over many years organizing similar music and other cultural events around Richmond (e.g. The French Film Festival, The recent Earth Day Festival) and they understand the importance of understanding local cultures, not clashing with other key festivals, ensuring facilities are not trashed, clean up procedures, policing, parking, etc, etc.

The aim is to create an environment where all interested parties can buy into the concept to bring this venerable institution back to where it was born!

Please bear with us while we talk to all interested parties, and if there is sufficient interest from the community we are proposing a special meeting for all Church Hill residents so we can explain our vision and you can give us input as to where you all come from. That in itself is a challenge we look forward to!

John Whitworth
President,
The Church Hill Association

Tonie Stevens
Dir. of Marketing, Events and Sponsorships,
Style Weekly

#16 Thanks!
Sounds like a win-win to me.

#14 Thanks!
Your previous grunt work is much appreciated. Others are ready to do some lifting. Isn’t that great?
You can kick back and enjoy your Chablis.

Cheers to Crd, High on the Hog and the Church Hill Association.

thank you mr. whitworth for the straight talk. if i could be of any help with organizing security i would be glad to donate my time. during the multi decades the event ran i can hardly remember there ever being any trouble as everyone seemed to really concentrate on having a good time. still,an ounce of prevention is always a good hedge against a pound of trouble. u can reach me thru chuck wrenn and i would be glad to help as u see fit.buddycorbett