Why fire up your grill on 4^th of July weekend, when you can eat award-winning barbecue, enjoy events for the kids and benefit area charities at the same time?

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage, Ky., will hold its third annual PIGNIC on Sunday, July 3^rd, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., outside the church on Maple Lane.  The menu will include pork barbecued by the church’s Brotherhood of St. Andrew, which has an award-winning record at local barbecue competitions.  Hot dogs, sides and soft drinks and adult beverages will also be available. 

“We want to make sure people understand, this isn’t a church party.  It’s an event for the whole community,” said Fr. Joe Smith, Rector at St. Luke’s.  “At our church, it’s the men who do most of the cooking, and they take it very seriously.  If you don’t come out and sample some of this amazing barbecue, you’re really missing out,” he said.

The event will take place under a tent, rain or shine, in the historic horse ring outside the church.  Table seating and musical entertainment will be offered under the tent, with raffles for prize packages going on throughout the evening.  Outside a variety of activities for kids will be offered, from bouncy ball races, to corn hole, face painting, magic shows, inflatables, volleyball and more. 

Past PIGNICs  profits have funded donations to a variety of local charities, including Wayside Christian Mission, Franciscan shelter House, Edge, Habitat for Humanity, Hearts for Kenya, Deaf Youth Ministries and local families hit by catastrophic illness or loss.

For $12, adults can have all-you-can-eat barbecue with sides.  Meals for kids 11 and under are $5.  “We’re cooking up enough pork for Cox’s army.  There’s plenty for everyone!  Come on down and get your holiday weekend started off right,” Smith said.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was founded in Anchorage in 1909, featuring Victorian Gothic Architecture and a historically preserved building.  It is the third largest Episcopal Church in the diocese of Kentucky.