ST. JOHN – The biggest event in the St. John community is days away.

The fourth annual Pork Fest will be held at the Tri-County Airport Saturday, May 24 and will feature the Band of Oz. The event is sponsored by the St. John Volunteer Fire Department and is the biggest fundraiser for that organization each year.

“We worked to consolidate all the little fundraisers into this one big event,” St. John Volunteer Fire Department Chief Wesley Liverman said.

The festival, which will feature plates of pork barbecue, will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday with dinner being served from 6-8 p.m. The Band of Oz will begin playing at 7 and continue through 11 p.m.

Tickets are available before the event and Liverman said he would encourage people to buy them early.

“We are planning for a certain number of people,” he said. “If we sell out, we’re out.”

The tickets can be purchased at St. John’s Karts in St. John and Ahoskie, Southern Bank in Ahoskie, Murfreesboro, Roanoke Rapids and Woodland, McCaskey’s Country Store in Union and Home Town Market in Millennium. They are $25 each for ages eight and older. Children seven and under are admitted free.

There will be adult beverages served at the event, but no coolers or outside alcohol will be allowed.

Those coming to the event are encouraged to bring a folding chair to be able to sit back and enjoy the music.

The event has a list of sponsors who are making it possible. They include Ag Carolina Financial, Boone’s Farm Supply, Cardinal Chemical, Coastal Agro Business, Commercial Ready Mix, Dawson Contracting, Freeman Metal Products, Greene-Bryant-Joyner, Home Life Care, Jernigan Oil Company, McCaskey Farms, Metal Tech of Murfreesboro, Murphy-Brown, Nucor Steel, Preston Wood, Ricky’s Corner Shop, St. John’s Karts and Kawasaki, Waters & Waters, WDLZ-FM and Wells Home Improvement.

“We want to thank all the corporate sponsors for helping the St. John Fire Department sponsor the fourth annual Pork Fest,” Liverman said. “We also appreciate the work of our active members and the Ladies’ Auxiliary for their hard work.

“It has to be a team effort,” he added. “Everyone has to work together to make this event successful.”