TRENTON — The first annual Pork Roll Festival in Trenton was so successful last year, supplies of the guest meat of honor quickly ran out and required an emergency replenishment.

The organizers promised an even better sequel in 2015, but after a breakdown in communication between the event's brainchild, Scott Miller, and the event's host Trenton Social owner, TC Nelson, there will be competing "2nd annual" pork roll festivals on May 23 in the city.

Miller has secured the Mill Hill Park as the location for his "Pork Roll Festival 2015." Nelson has announced he will hold a simultaneous "Trenton Pork Roll Festival" outside his restaurant about a half-mile away.

Both will use "2nd Annual" in their marketing of the events and both start at 10 a.m.

"We set off to find a bigger venue and to have the maximum biggest possible economic benefit for the city," Miller said of the selection of Mill Hill Park. "We're trying to promote the festival as a tourist event. To aid non profits and soup kitchens and we wanted something we could build up on year after year."

The idea for a pork roll festival came from Miller posting a simple question on Facebook: "How come Trenton does not have a pork roll festival?" Nelson was the first to respond to the post, and the two pulled it off - together.

"I helped launch it and develop it," Nelson said of the festival. "We did it all on a handshake and sometimes that is not the smartest thing."

Nelson said that Mill Hill Park is a great space, but it's not a restaurant with a parking lot, and it has challenges. After not being included in the planning, Nelson said he decided to move forward himself with the plans for a sequel.

Nelson said Miller later offered him a spot as a vendor for the Mill Hill Park festival, but he preferred to keep the festival at Trenton Social and improve on the issues that were caused last year when more than 4,000 people showed up.

Tickets this year for the Trenton Social festival are already on sale for $5 online, and total admission will be capped at 2,500, according to the festival's Facebook page.

The Mill Hill Park festival plans to sell 3,000 tickets at $5 each online in advance.

Miller said the first pork roll festival was one of the most "heartwarming" things he's ever been involved in, and he wants it to grow. He sees it growing as a foodie event, but also as a benefit for nonprofits that help city residents.

Miller and Nelson agree on one thing -- they want to see people visit Trenton and enjoy pork roll on May 23.

The competition will likely bring out the best in each other, Nelson said.

"I wish him the best," said Nelson said, who added the best outcome said would be for each festival to grow geographically. "And maybe in three or four years, we'll meet out on South Broad Street."

Miller also wished Nelson well with his event.

"We're doing this in the park with the same group of people that put it together last year. And I wish them all the best and success," Miller said. "I mean pork roll is supposed to be about peace and love."

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.