Not your grandma’s Pig Jig. Look back at Columbus Riverfest history before May 3-4 event
Depending on how long you’ve lived in Columbus, you may have made some memories at the Salisbury Fair, the Pig Jig and Riverfest. However, Riverfest 2024 is this weekend, May 3 and 4, and it’s going to be a Riverfest like we’ve never seen before.
The fair (then jig, then festival) has changed a lot over the years and this demonstrates how closely it is tied to our shared history and culture. The evolution of the event is a direct reflection of how our community has evolved over the five decades it’s been around, and now it’s shaping up to be more fun than ever.
Originally sponsored by Historic Columbus Foundation (HCF), Riverfest, or the Salisbury Fair as it was known back then, was created to bring people to the newly dubbed Columbus Historic District.
It all started in 1969, when HCF opened its house during the Chamber of Commerce’s “Spring Festival Days” to get folks in the door of the new organization. Along with tours of historic Columbus homes, it developed into a gathering of people interested in celebrating Columbus.
Over the years, the event has changed locations several times and suffered in popularity a little in the early 2010s, but it’s looking like it may be back in a big way.
Uptown Columbus is bringing back the Riverfest tradition, but this is not your grandmother’s Riverfest (although she probably called it The Salisbury Fair). It’s two days of cool music, good food, arts and crafts, a little something for the kiddos and a whole lot of community fellowship.
Before we look ahead to this weekend’s events, let’s take a look back at how it’s transformed itself over the years.
Salisbury Fair era
In 1971, the event moved to the Broadway median and the price of admission to the fair was a whopping $1 for adults and half that for the kids. There was a little train ride that ran up and down Broadway that many of us remember well.
In the early days, the Salisbury Fair had more of a flea market vibe and people would come to buy quilts or homemade candles and jams. In 1974, more than 12,000 Columbusites attended and the vendor tables earned the incredible sum of $1,000.
As a symbol of Columbus’ commitment to growth, the spirit of Riverfest has always been deeply rooted in the evolving culture and community. As such, it went where it was needed.
As a way to promote the newly erected Columbus Iron Works, the Fair moved there in 1979. The feel of the Fair shifted to more of a convention, and it entered into the height of its popularity with the city.
The Pig Jig era
During the ‘80s Riverfest expanded to the Chattahoochee Promenade and began hosting the Chattahoochee Folk Festival. There is not much collective memory of this particular installment, and even then it was quickly overshadowed by the incarnation of the Pig Jig in 1987.
The Pig Jig took on a life of its own, with folks competing for best barbecue in the area. It got so big, in fact, that it turned into a qualifier event for the very famous national barbecue cook-off celebration, Memphis-in-May, which is in its 46th year.
It is thanks in part to the hard work of the HCF leadership Sue C. Howard, Frances M. Quick and Fran C. Hall that the Pig Jig became such a staple event in our area.
Riverfest by the river
As the festival tended to do, it moved again when the Riverwalk was unveiled in 1993. Parallel to Columbus’ progress, Riverfest changed venues to bring people together in some of our most beautiful spaces. Once it found its home on the water, it began to really thrive.
In 1996, the Southeast Tourism Society named Riverfest one of the top 20 festivals in the South and it began to draw folks from all over the south. Hotels would fill up, tickets would sell out early, and bigger named acts began to play here.
One of the largest crowds in Riverfest history turned out the night James Brown played in 2001, and that was a historical night, indeed. When you ask a lot of people about Riverfest, they remember James Brown’s headlining performance.
Columbus struggled to recapture the success of the James Brown year, and it faded a little from our cultural reference.
Riverfest as we know it now
The Riverfest event has been revitalized by Uptown Columbus and it has, again evolved with our community. Since Columbus has evolved into a contender for arts, culture and entertainment, the Riverfest must catch-up,
The lineup for the 2024 event reflects the local music scene’s eclectic mix of grass roots and new soul fervor. It will feature two days of live music, good food, and cool art.
Columbus favorite DSOS will headline Friday night, following Holly Rumbarger and the Mississippi Shakedown. Saturday will feature an all day celebration of our community with local boy Jonboy Storey, Skyler Saufey and 99th Degree, and Tanner Fussell.
The Atlanta Braves will also make a stop here on Saturday May 4th, as part of their Braves Country Road Trip. You can take photos with them in a replica of Truist Park.
For more information about how to buy tickets for the two-day Riverfest, visit their website at www.alwaysuptown.com/riverfest.
Email me your memories of the Salisbury Fair, Pig Jig, or Riverfest at srose@ledger-enquirer.com.
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