Pigtown, as most Baltimoreans know, got its name from the turn of the century practice of herding pigs from nearby rail cars though the historic neighborhood’s narrow streets — on their way to south Baltimore slaughterhouses.
Saturday’s 11th Pigtown Festival, in homage and comic parody of neighborhood’s heritage, again included its annual “running of the pigs,” which has quickly become a much-anticipated tradition.
There are other attractions at the festival, of course, live music, pie-eating contests, a pumpkin patch for kids, great BBQ, for example, as well as a mix of vendors and artisans. But there’s nothing quite like watching kids cheering on their favorite pink hog and taking a photo with one of the little guys afterwards.