Thank you for coming to “PIG Day Out” at Pike Place Market!
Pig Day Out
Thanks to our sponsors who made this event possible:
Unexpected Productions
Pike Place Pigs
Mee Sum Pastry
Pike Brewing Company
Old Stove Brewing
Wilridge Winery
Dry Sparkling
Pike Place Market PDA
Friends of the Market
Stellar
Visit Seattle
Pike Place Producers
Pike Place Market Foundation Board of Directors
THE UNVEILING OF GOLDEN PEARL!
Meet “Ju Ju” or Golden Pearl, the sister of Rachel the Piggy Bank who premiered at PIG Day Out! and will be at Lunar New Year Celebrations around the Seattle region all year.
About the Pig Races
About All Alaskan Racing Pigs : All Alaskan Pig Races are members and contributors to Livestock Conservancy whose mission is “to protect endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction.” All Alaskan Racing Pigs adopts, trains and cares for their pigs, before eventually giving them away to small backyard farms and sanctuaries. According to All Alaskan Racing Pigs, their pigs are happy and receive VIP treatment in climate controlled living environments, along with healthy, tasty treats, while thriving with a purpose.
About the Pig Races: The pigs ran on a small portion of the Market, over a bed of shavings to protect their hooves from the Market’s cobblestone. The Pike Place Market Foundation worked closely with All Alaskan Racing Pigs to ensure that all pigs will be respected during this celebratory day, which benefitted the low-income and homeless community members in and around the Market.
Our Statement: We have received some comments and concerns about the Pig Races at this event as it relates to the treatment of the animals. We want our Market supporters to know we share in your empathy and compassion for our neighbors – both animal and human. The Pike Place Market Foundation has a longstanding and loving relationship with our mascots, Rachel and Billie the Pigs. Both the Rachel and Billie Piggy Banks are located in the Market and collect thousands of dollars in donations each year for the Market Foundation, which help us nurture our homeless and low-income neighbors in a thriving Market community through housing, healthcare, nutritious food, childcare, and life-changing resources.
Our Pig Day Out activities celebrated Rachel, Billie, National Pig Day and the Chinese Year of the Pig. As part of this day-long celebration, The Market Foundation vetted and contracted with All-Alaskan Racing Pigs to ensure that this experience is educational, helping foster an awareness of this complex and previously threatened heritage breed, the Gloucestershire Old Spots.
We ask for your support and compassion as we bring our community together for a day of celebration and to raise funds to continue our mission to nurture a thriving Market community.
Sincerely, The Pike Place Market Foundation