However you feel about that pig-on-a-bungee-cord stunt that made news at a theme park in China, it seems safe to say that the Florida State Fair‘s Hollywood Racing Pigs are having a lot more fun that that poor porker, who was reportedly taken off to the slaughterhouse after his ordeal by bungee. According to the people who bring the racing pigs to town, the Coronas of Hollywood, these 1-year-olds are not made into bacon once they’ve passed their racing prime, but delivered to family farms where they live out their lives in piggish comfort. But meanwhile, they’re given punny names like Kim Kardashi-ham and The Notorious P.I.G. and get to race around with other piggies to compete for the big prize — an Oreo cookie.
The pigs will be racing four times today (at 11, 1:30, 4:30 and 7), plus you can also see Extreme Dogs, Extreme Pogo and all kinds of other extreme entertainment (including extremely, um, inventive foods). And it’s a Senioriffic Day — discounted admission and special “senior-focused programming,” whatever that is, for guests 55 and over. So get out there, seniors, and pig out!
The Florida State Fair continues through Feb. 17, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US Hwy 301 N., Tampa, 813-621-7821, floridastatefair.com.