It is an effort which will benefit several charitable organizations either directly through proceeds or indirectly through vendor booths organizations will set up.

The decision to do the festival was a direct result of the sponsors of the Virginia Pork Festival deciding to end its longstanding event, said Chuck Marsh, general manager of First Media Radio. “We planned to have it when it’s cooler,” he said.

The event is scheduled for October 6 and will feature Colt Ford as the headliner and serve as a reunion for Sidewinder, Marsh said.

(Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at https://www.oinktoberfestnc.com/

Lake Gaston Pizza in Littleton; The UPS Store in Emporia; 102.3 Maverick Studio in Weldon; Sheriff Wes Tripp; Jack Boseman Nationwide in Roanoke Rapids; Big Time Pawn in Roanoke Rapids; White's Chevrolet in Roanoke Rapids and Whitley's Barbecue in Murfreesboro. No tickets will be sold at the gate)

​Sidewinder hadn’t done any large scale performances in a while and Cleve Baker, a First Media Radio personality, talked them into doing the reunion.

“We want to do this on a yearly basis to keep entertainment dollars in the area and turn the entertainment dollars into charitable dollars,” Marsh said.

The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Toy Drive will benefit from the event, Marsh said.

“We have enjoyed a long-term working relationship with First Media Radio,” Sheriff Wes Tripp said. “It’s been a good fit because the sheriff’s office and General Manager Chuck Marsh are all about giving back to the community.”

Last year the toy drive resulted in more than 1,000 toys being distributed to children in the county, the sheriff said.

The American Legion will not only get the rental fee for the event but will get half the proceeds of beer sales.

Shriners will be doing pizza sales and the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum will have a booth.

Included in the price of the $35 ticket is not only the entertainment — the headliner Ford; the 7100 Band; Tommy McCoy and Sidewinder — but all you can eat barbecue pork, chicken and sides catered by Hermie and Elliott Sadler’s Fosho based on recipes by Bill Ellis Barbecue.

The gates will open at 2 p.m. and live music starts at 3 p.m., starting with the 7100 Band. Tommy McCoy will take the stage next followed by the Sidewinder reunion at 6 p.m. Ford will take the stage for an 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. headline performance.

The last day to order tickets is September 28.

Budweiser products will be sold for $4 per beer.

“We’ll have some pretty cool raffles that will be available,” Marsh said, including a rifle raffle.

Limited edition Maverick radio stations T-shirts will be available as will limited Magic 97 T-shirts.

Marsh said he is appreciative of all the sponsors of the event. “They love the community so much and see the value.”

There are 10 radio stations advertising the event and Marsh is doing paid social media posting to promote the event. “We hope to get 3,000 people to come which means tickets are limited.”