The Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival evolved for Abbeville's Flight Through the Pines and May Day Festivals.  Mr. D.C. Yancey did not want the yearly festivals to die so he went to Lanier Keene, Masonic Lodge Mason, and asked if he thought the Masons would like to help with a yearly festival.  So Mr. Yancey met with a few of the masons and local citizens;  Bill Sims, Lanier Keene, Tommy C. McCall, Jake Keene, Pricilla Whitman, and Dean Clements.  These people decided that a festival would go on but now it needed a name. 

Mr. Bill Sims stated that if they could get a few thousand people to come to a Opossum Festival over in Dexter, GA. why not a Wild Hog Festival.  So the Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival began.  The festival started with $750 from the May Day festival.  Each year the Masons have sold BBQ & Stew and the Abbeville Volunteer Fire Dept. has sponsored a street dance after the closing of the festival.  For a few years, the masons even had a womanless beauty pageant. 

The kids pig chase is one of the many favorite activity to watch.  The kids have a wonderful time.  New events have been added over the years and that includes a poker run with several hundred motorcycles descending upon Abbeville for the festival.  The organizers of the poker run donate their proceeds to charity.  An antique car & tractor show are also one of the many additional events with their proceeds going to prizes and trophies. 

Each year the organizers look for new venues to keep the tradition going.  We hope that you will join us on Saturday before Mothers Day this year for a fun filled day of music, dancing, arts & crafts, and more food choices than we can name.