Tickets to this signature annual event, beloved for its laidback summer food and fun, sold out quickly, and we were thrilled to welcome so many people for a day of compassionate community and connection. 

Guests enjoyed delicious vegan BBQ provided by Beyond, time with rescued farm animals, live music, kid-friendly programming, special moments with our President & Co-founder, Gene Baur, and much more.

As the day began, we invited guests to browse a market featuring sustainable vegan goods from local artisans and vendors, including Aurora Bath & Beauty, Ithaca Breadworks, One Love, Cabinet Thirty-One, Burning Books, Sam Goldstein, Montour Falls Tea Company, and SPS Pottery Studio.

Guests enjoyed inspiring presentations by Ethan Brown, founder of Beyond, and by Gene Baur, who reflected on Farm Sanctuary’s 40th anniversary and our ongoing mission to combat the abuses of factory farming and build sustainable food systems rooted in compassion.

In a special throwback to Farm Sanctuary’s early days, guests enjoyed photo ops with our Volkswagen van. In the 1980s, Gene Baur took this trusty van on the road, following the Grateful Dead on tour and selling vegan hot dogs outside their shows to raise funds for our mission and reach an audience receptive to our message of compassion for all.

Featuring plant-based burgers, sausages, and steak from our generous sponsor, Beyond, our all-vegan BBQ spread also included macaroni and cheese, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, cookies, brownies, and more. We all pulled up a seat for a compassionate summer feast, with no animals harmed!

As guests enjoyed the compassionate food, they enjoyed live music by talented artist, Mike Deall.

Pignic featured fun activities for the whole family, and for the first time this year, we hosted a kids’ read-aloud with the rescued animals as Mercy Mize, senior manager of our education programs, read “Gwen the Rescue Hen” by Leslie Crawford. Mercy was recently honored with an award from the Association of Professional Humane Educators—read more here!

Guests also had the chance to make an impact on our residents’ daily lives by joining our staff to create enrichment activities and snacks for the animals, including veggie kebabs and a treat dispenser for our bird friends in the aviary.

Pignic is not just a party—it’s a celebration that shines a light on the emotional lives of pigs, raises awareness for farm animals everywhere, and lights the way toward a world without factory farming.

Everyone who purchased a ticket and celebrated with us contributed to our ongoing rescue, education, and advocacy efforts, helping to write the next 40 years of Farm Sanctuary.