Rebranded ‘Pig Wing Fling’ Replaces Traditional ‘Cookin’ on Kampeska’ in Massive July Overhaul
- Steve Jurrens
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce received unanimous Council backing for its special event permits after revealing a comprehensive, multi-layered restructuring of one of the community’s longest-running summer traditions.
The event, known as “Cookin’ on Kampeska,” will break with its traditional competitive-cooking format this July to become an expansive food and music festival at Stokes Thomas City Park.
The discussion began when Ward 3 Councilman Lynn Jurrens noted the high level of community anticipation surrounding the changes:
“I hear there’s going to be some changes to this this year. I thought that was good news. Music... Tim, does that sound right? I mean, good changes, people are excited... Might as well take the opportunity. It’s a great event, and it might be something that, you know, might be a few years since someone around Watertown has not been there.”
Tim Sheehan, speaking on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, stepped forward to outline a vision aimed at modernizing the event, which originally launched in 1981:
“We’ve been working hard on changing... Cookin’ on Kampeska. If you guys remember, back in 1981, it started. It was Kampeska Days, and then it moved on to Wing Fling, and then Cookin’ on Kampeska. We just feel the need to change it based on a lot of things. But I think this will be my best one, favorite one ever. We will be calling this somewhat of a ‘Pig Wing Fling.’ We’ve discovered pig wings here a couple of years ago, and I’ve always thought, since we have the opportunity, let’s make this a Pig Wing Fling.”
For those unfamiliar with the culinary item, Sheehan detailed its unique nature, explaining that the Chamber has partnered directly with the South Dakota Pork Producers to anchor the festival’s menu around the delicacy:
“If you’re not familiar with the pig wing, the pig wing is the first wrist... there’s only two per pig, but they cut the wrists off and that makes the pig wing. We’ve partnered with the South Dakota Pork Producers to make that an event... they will be here in full force to help us kick off a pig wing fling.”
Beyond the pork-centric culinary rebranding, the Chamber is significantly scaling up the entertainment footprint of the weekend, expanding the live music options from a small selection of performers to a massive multi-day lineup:
“In addition to that, we’ve got, I think, 13 bands. Starting, of course, we’ll have Thursday night live out at the lake, and then we’ll have it at about noon or 1:00 on Friday with bands continually throughout the day, and then again on Saturday, more music throughout the day as well. Typically, it’s different than what we’ve had; typically, we’ve only had three bands out there—one Thursday, one Friday, one Saturday. But this one will be a full-fledged—I would call it more of a music festival, but with the pig wing flare on there as well.”
The festival, which runs from Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, July 18, 2026, will also incorporate public educational elements.
Sheehan revealed that the Chamber is collaborating with Nyberg’s Ace Hardware to host interactive cooking schools and classes on-site, alongside a series of youth-centric grilling competitions and entertainment stations. Following the presentation, the Council enthusiastically approved the special retail on-sale permits.
