Hoghead Days Continues Into Another Year, Despite Cancelation Fears

PROCTOR, Minn. — It’s that time of year again for the annual Hoghead Days celebration. But earlier this summer it was announced that the weekend festivities weren’t going to happen. But still the festival found a way to continue into another year.

Hoghead Days started back in 1976 as an idea from a group of business owners who wanted to celebrate the railroad origins and spirit of Proctor. Owner of the Proctor Journal, Jake Benson, was one of several business owners who founded the celebration.

“When you look at the old locomotives, the front of the engine looks like a pig’s snout,” said Benson. “That’s what became known as the hog. The engineer always road at the head of the train so they became the hog heads. That was the affectionate name we selected for our festival.”

The original founders of Hoghead Days met at a music teacher’s house where they played cribbage. It was an average until on of the founding members casually brought up the idea.

“I was the youngest one of them all and a bunch of the older gentlman said we need something to replace our Fourth of July Parade,” said Benson. From that moment, Hoghead Days was born.

Each year the festival has been sponsored by the Proctor Lions Club. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, they pulled out of involvement.

“As far as we know they were in the process of planning Hoghead Days,” said Jerred Hinks, volunteer and VFW officer. “From what we heard they were down to about four members and they realized it was something that was just too big for them to take on.”

“It was one of those things where we didn’t want to see it go away,” said Eric Bingaman, the owner of Proctor Pizza. “It’s such a pride of the community, especially the parade.”

Bingaman said that the Proctor community has always been grateful for the Lions Club involvement, but cancelling the beloved event wasn’t an option.

“Let’s put our heads together and see if we can make this happen,” said Bingaman. Together with Hinks and others in the community, they felt like they had to put their coal in the fire to save Hoghead as the festivities neared.

Although to pull it off, they had to slim down Hoghead. The popular parade was still featured alongside local business providing music, events, and specialty food items.

Bingaman remembers how fun and popular Hoghead was growing up, and hopes the festival to be back in full-swing next year.

“Everyone was supporting local business,” said Bingaman. “There were activities for the kids to do, there were games. There was food. Everyone had a good time. In my mind that’s how a small town festival should always be.”

For the majority of folks in Proctor, they believe that rallying around a similar cause, like saving Hoghead, perfectly exemplifies their community. Sticking behind and supporting one another. Hoghead this year will close on Sunday, but planners say that they look forward to continue this tradition next year into their 50th year.