Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center hosts annual ‘Pig Race’

This past Sunday, the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center hosted “The Pig Race” in the neighboring town of Goshen, welcoming more than 90 children and adults for a day of fun in the snow. Despite the name, the event is not a race between pigs; it is instead a self-timed ski-and-snow obstacle course, winding through the trails of Vermont's “Wild Blueberry Capital.” The experience ends with a roasted pig and piñata activity. 

The Pig Race began in the 1970s to celebrate the birthday of the Blueberry Hill Inn's previous owner, Tony Clark. According to their website, Clark acquired the property in 1967 and reopened it four years later, simultaneously launching the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center, which is situated in the 16,000-acre Moosalamoo National Recreation Area.

Shari Brown, owner and manager of the center, described the event not as a competitive race, but rather an opportunity for leisure. The racetrack is designed by Britta Clark, the daughter of Brown and Clark. “The course is designed based on just 100% fun and safety,” Brown said in an interview with the Campus.

Warren Foster, a local Brandon resident and board member of the Moosalamoo Association — a non-profit that advocates on behalf of the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area — has been a longtime enthusiast of “The Pig Race” tradition. 

Though he was unable to attend this year, Foster has watched the race evolve over the decades, witnessing the transition from wooden skis, bamboo poles, and klister ski wax to fishscale skis and skins in recent years. 

“There'll be balloons, there'll be flags, there'll be colored snow. With this kind of snow, there'll probably be some snowmen and stuff like that and who knows what else […] the costumes really make it festive, and people are wearing the costumes. They're, you know, feeling pretty, pretty happy,” Foster said.

In keeping with the festive tradition of the event, the race ends with a roasted pig for all to relish, followed by an unconventional award ceremony celebrating the best costume, the racer who cheated the most, and the last-place finisher. 

“You know, nothing quite beats, well, unless you're vegetarian, I suppose, a roast pig and you can see the whole thing. It's not done behind a curtain. It's right there in front of you. And, you know, a real festive part of it is the food, of course,” Foster said. 

Clark revived the race in 2024, after her father's passing. “There was a pause for a number of years. I think just [because of] a little bit of burnout and just inconsistent snow.”

The race, although light-hearted, carries additional meaning to Shari. “The outdoor center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit. So the fundraising is all for maintaining […] the trails and the maps.” The center is part of a wide range of outdoor facilities, such as the Middlebury College Snowbowl and the Rikert Outdoor Center.

Apart from supporting winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing, the center also provides services for summer activities. “In the summer, it's just a base and access for hiking, and there’s a few campsites on the property as well.” 

In the past, participants have had to run with skis due to poor snow conditions. However, this year, fewer difficulties were encountered due to the abundant snowfall. “We do it rain or shine, snow or no. It’s our tagline,” Brown added. 

For students who want to join the Pig Race next year but are new to skiing, equipment rental is available at a student rate. This summer, the center will also be hosting the Goshen Gallop, a 10k trail race for runners from all around the world.