EATON — The Pork Festival Board of Directors has been hard at work planning and preparing for the 47th Annual Pork Festival, to be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16-17.

As always, the festival will be located at the Preble County Fairgrounds in Eaton, but will be without the traditional smorgasbord meal option.

According to a press release issued by the directors, this year’s event has some exciting changes for festival-goers to take part in and make the event even more family-friendly. Festival-goers can watch the famous racing pigs, and also ride a camel or pony, and pet animals in the petting zoo.

The board of directors also said the education portion of the festival has expanded into three barns. The display will feature 11 different live breeds of pigs. There will also be hands-on activities for both kids and adults to participate in cooperation with the Ohio Pork Council and National Trail MVCTC FFA Chapter. There will be agriculture community groups with displays from around Preble County, as well as colleges and institutions with exhibits displaying what they have to offer.

Individuals who participate in these activities will have the opportunity to win a free goody basket compliments of the Pork Festival.

There will also be a new featured food venue called the “Chop Stop” in lieu of the smorgasbord. The Chop Stop will include a meal which can be enjoyed at the festival or taken home. The meal will consist of one pork chop, potato wedges, applesauce, roll, pie and a drink for $8 or for $10, two pork chops, potato wedges, applesauce, roll, pie and a drink.

“The Chop Stop is more feasible, family-friendly option for festival-goers to partake in,” the release noted.

Love the festival sausage? According to festival directors, shoppers can still get fried sausage a la carte at the Chop Stop or at the Pop-N-Chop.

The festival will once again be featuring Short Order for a la carte dining, with the addition of cheesecake to the famous pie families love to eat.

The release continued: “Make sure you have some of the famous pulled pork nachos with all the fixings. Don’t forget to come for the All You Can Eat pancake & sausage breakfast served from 6:30- 10 a.m. each day. The Country Store will have fresh bacon, ham, ribs, loin, roast, sausage, chops, cracklings, jerky and pork snack sticks.”

The Souvenir Shop will be located in the new rabbit pavilion, according to organizers. New items such as concrete lawn ornaments, piggy banks, piggy key chains and this year’s festival t-shirts have been added.

The Pork Festival has free admission, free parking and free entertainment. Visit the website porkfestival.org for the full schedule.