HEBRON — Harold Brooks is changing his beer tent at the Redneck “Blank” Pig Roast and Music Fest to a veterans tent for a barbecue and fundraiser.

The founder and organizer of the four-day festival has also replaced his traditional Confederate battle flag with a red, white and blue flag for the eighth annual event Aug. 2-5.

Brooks attended a public hearing before the Board of Selectmen on June 25 to answer questions and submit documents for a mass-gathering permit.

The BYOB festival draws thousands of campers and revelers to his 210-acre property on Harold Lane each summer for live music, food and games. 

Selectmen Elizabeth Olsen, Dan Eichorn and Chairman Richard Deans said Brooks must furnish documents, including proof of liability insurance and confirmation of adequate law enforcement personnel.

Brooks said he changed the banner flag on his event Facebook page and posters, and the beer tent to promote his collaboration with the Lewiston Veterans Center.

Brooks, a contractor, told selectmen the decision came during a construction job to jack up a barn. When he arrived at the job site, someone was baking bread.

“She’s cooking a bunch of bread,” he said. “I asked her, ‘What are you cooking all the bread for?'”

He was told it was to raise money for the Lewiston Veterans Center’s July 4 barbecue. He decided to close the beer tent, move it a little farther away from the stage and put the veterans in it for a barbecue and fundraiser.

“It was easy to do it. They had a need,” he said.

No one from the public attended the public hearing. Selectmen said they have 30 days from the date of the completed application to act on it.

The Mass Gathering Ordinance was approved by voters in 2012, some say in response to the first redneck festival. 

The ordinance regulates events that attract more than 300 people and last at least six hours. An application must be filed at least 60 days before the event. The board can impose conditions to safeguard the public and nearby properties.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net

Harold Brooks, founder of the Redneck “Blank” Pig Roast and Music Fest told the Hebron Board of Selectmen during a June 25 public hearing that having four Maine State Police officers on hand during the event has made a “big difference” in participants’ behavior. (Leslie H. Dixon/Advertiser Democrat)