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Category: Festivals and Fairs (Page 5 of 7)

Free strawberries and ice cream after Saturday's parade!

Strawberry Days, Glenwood Springs CO, June 17th through 19th 2016

June 11, 2015 / / 0 Comments

The dates? Friday through Sunday, June 17th through the 19th, 2016. It’s the 119th (119th!) Annual Strawberry Days in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Pie Day is Friday at 9 am at the First United Methodist Church. The food booths open at noon Friday in Sayre Park. There will also be a beer garden. The food highlight of Strawberry Days has to be the free strawberries and ice cream handed out on Saturday after the 10 a.m. parade, in Sayre Park (named Strawberry Park for the weekend). Fresh, local strawberries will be available for purchase all weekend. And don’t skip the Rotary Pancake Breakfast Sunday morning. Continue reading

Strawberry shortcake for the eating contest

Marysville Strawberry Festival, Marysville WA, June 11th through 19th 2016

June 10, 2015 / / 0 Comments

The town of Marysville in Washington state is situated between the Cascade Mountains and the Puget Sound, in a region where rainfall, sunshine, and soil conditions are ideal for the growing of strawberries, a major local crop. In 1932 town leaders gathered with the thought of coming up with some way to publicize the local berry, and the Marysville Strawberry Festival was born. Today it’s one of the oldest festivals in the state. The 2016 fest will run from Saturday, June 11th through Sunday the 19th. Continue reading

Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, Warren AR, June 6th through 13th 2015

June 8, 2015 / / 0 Comments

A pink tomato festival. With no prior knowledge of the event we would have assumed that this is a celebration of a locally grown tomato that ripens to a pink (rather than deep red) color (there ARE such tomatoes). But no… what they are celebrating, here in Bradley County, Arkansas, is a variety of tomato that ships well if picked when the tomato tops just barely turn pink (ripening further after picking). That pink tomato is now the official state fruit and vegetable of Arkansas. Continue reading

Poke Sallet Festival, Harlan KY, June 4th through 6th 2015

June 5, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Times have changed! Here’s how we began a story about Harlan’s Poke Sallet Festival a decade ago: “Think you make the best poke sallet in Harlan County? Want to pit yourself against Kentucky’s finest poke sallet cooks? Want to know what poke sallet is? Then attend the Poke Sallet Festival in Harlan, Kentucky this week. . . . Poke sallet meals will be available at Jac’s Coffee Shop, Mary’s Country Store, and the Coal Miners Cafe.” Those days (and those three restaurants) are long one. We see no mention of the poke sallet cooking contest on the festival website either. Today, poke sallet serves as more of a regional mascot than an edible at the festival, which focuses on fun and games and entertainment. Continue reading

Lebanon Strawberry Festival, Lebanon OR, June 4th through 7th 2015

June 4, 2015 / / 0 Comments

This year (2015) marks the 106th Lebanon Strawberry Festival in Lebanon, Oregon, which was started in 1909 to celebrate the Mid-Willamette Valley strawberry. The festivities begin today, Thursday, June 4th and continue through the weekend, at Cheadle Lake Regional Park. Continue reading

National Sand Bass Festival, Madill OK, June 1st through 6th 2015

June 2, 2015 / / 0 Comments

The white bass (or sand bass) is the state fish of Oklahoma, and spring is the time for local anglers to catch ‘em. Madill, Oklahoma celebrates with the annual National Sand Bass Festival, held this year (2015) from June 1st through the 6th. This 41st festival, which was first held in 1963 (the festival was not held from 1976 through 1987), will mostly take place downtown on the square. There will be arts and crafts booths, a car show, a midway, a fun run, horseshoes, fishing of course (presumably not in the town square), terrapin races, food booths, and free live music. Continue reading

Mudbug Madness, Shreveport LA, May 21st through 24th 2015

May 18, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Call ’em mudbugs, crawdads, crawfish, or crayfish – doesn’t matter a bit, as long as there’s a steaming red mound of the boiled critters in front of you, preferably accompanied by plenty of ice-cold beer and a zydeco band. Is that how you want to spend your Memorial Day weekend? Then point your car towards northern Louisiana (Shreveport, to be precise) for at the 32nd annual Mudbug Madness. Continue reading

Jambalaya Festival, Gonzales LA, May 20th through 24th 2015

May 17, 2015 / / 1 Comment

Did you know that Gonzales, Louisiana is the Jambalaya Capital of the World? That’s what they decided to start calling themselves in 1967, the idea being that, along with a brand new Jambalaya Festival, the self-proclaimed title would help make a name for the town. And, you know what? It worked! Continue reading

Rhubarb Festival, Kankakee IL, May 17th 2015

May 16, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Where rhubarb goes, strawberry follows. Or so it seems. The crisp and tart vegetable/fruit that looks like pink celery is in season in springtime, just like its playmate the strawberry. Of course you do see rhubarb things without the berry but, to us, that always seems a little sad, as if someone is warning us not to have too much fun. That won’t be a problem tomorrow, Sunday, May 17th, in Kankakee, Illinois, as the 25th annual Rhubarb Festival will be held at the Kankakee County Museum at the Small Memorial Museum Campus. Continue reading

We actually find the photos of the real Mike rather creepy. This sculptural depiction is much easier to take.

Mike the Headless Chicken Festival, Fruita CO, May 15th and 16th 2015

May 15, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Let’s set the scene: imagine it’s 1948, and you live on a farm where you raise chickens. Your mother-in-law will be here for dinner tonight, and she is fond of eating the chicken neck. So you go out to your coop and grab a fat bird, and when you swing your axe you’re sure to leave lots of neck for your mom. Off comes the head, followed by tonight’s dinner behaving as if nothing significant has just occurred. That’s what actually happened to the Olsen family of Fruita, Colorado. Lloyd Olsen was moved by the chicken’s determination, named him Mike, and continued to raise and feed him (he grew from 2 1/2 pounds to 8 pounds) for the next 18 months! Continue reading

Poke Salat Festival, Arab AL, May 15th and 16th 2015

May 14, 2015 / / 0 Comments

The name of this festival is really for historical significance and atmospherics as you are not likely to find actual poke salat (or sallet) at this or any of the other poke sallet festivals held in Southern communities. What is poke salat? You may know it as pokeweed. It has been treated as a vegetable in the rural South, much more so in the past than today. Only the young leaves are eaten, and they must be boiled well – some say in several changes of water. The plant is considered poisonous, particularly the root, stems, and berries. Continue reading

International Biscuit Festival, Knoxville TN, May 14th through 16th 2015

May 13, 2015 / / 0 Comments

It’s biscuits, biscuits, and more biscuits as the International Biscuit Festival returns to Knoxville, Tennessee this week. This relatively new festival, first held in 2009, has rapidly grown into one of the country’s major food shindigs. There are really two parts to this event. Beginning Thursday, May 14th, and continuing through the day Friday, is the Southern Food Writing Conference, featuring seminars, speakers, and professional food writers. The $450 registration fee will keep those with a more casual interest in the subject away. Of more relevance to the general public will be the events from Friday evening on. Continue reading

Ms. Johnston will be giving a cooking class at the fest.

National Morel Mushroom Festival, Boyne City MI, May 14th through 17th 2015

May 12, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Those who love them look forward to spring with great anticipation. Many fans have a prized, secret spot for harvesting their own. Those who do not love them have probably never tasted them. We are talking about that honeycomb-headed mushroom known as the morel. This coming weekend, you can join the annual celebration of the fungus at the National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City, Michigan, and maybe learn a thing or two about hunting them and cooking them. Continue reading

Chocolate-covered strawberries are just one of the many strawberry treats available at the festival.

West Virginia Strawberry Festival, Buckhannon WV, May 9th through May 17th 2015

May 11, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Homemade ice cream and strawberry shortcake, plus homemade old-fashioned sugar cookies, at the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church; strawberry pancakes and sausage at the First United Methodist Church; rib eye steak sandwiches and strawberry shortcake presented by the 4-H on the Episcopal Church lawn; homemade strawberry shortcake offered by the ladies of the local American Legion. Yes, it’s time for the West Virginia Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon, which began Saturday and continues through Sunday, May 17th. Continue reading

Adairville Strawberry Festival, Adairville KY, May 9th through May 16th 2015

May 10, 2015 / / 0 Comments

The 69th annual Strawberry Festival in Adairville, Kentucky began yesterday, and continues through next Saturday (March 16th 2015).  The  Little Miss Pageant and the Senior Miss Pageant will take place Tuesday.  Rides, crafts, and karaoke begin this Thursday, with live music, a pet show, a kiddie parade, and the opening of the Strawberry Shoppe (homemade strawberry ice cream, strawberry shortcake!) to follow on Friday. Continue reading

Shad Derby Festival, Windsor CT, Month of May 2015

May 9, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Each year in Windsor, CT (a little bit north of Hartford) shad (the state fish of Connecticut) swim up the Connecticut and Farmington Rivers to lay their eggs in fresh water (similar to salmon). The people of Windsor observe this biological fact with their own annual event, the springtime Shad Derby Festival. The festival is really a series of sponsored events spread throughout the month of May (this year, from the 1st through the 16th). Some of the events that have already taken place include the Fishing Tournament, the Shad Derby Gala, and the Coronation Ball. Continue reading

Stilwell Strawberry Festival, Stilwell OK, May 9th 2015

May 8, 2015 / / 0 Comments

The heart of the strawberry season is upon much of America and the strawberry festivals are popping up all over! Tomorrow, Saturday, May 9th, 2015, Stillwell, Oklahoma (“The Strawberry Capital of the World”) will host their 68th annual strawberry festival. Over 30,000 folks are expected for the shindig. Continue reading

West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, Humboldt TN, May 3rd through May 9th 2015

May 7, 2015 / / 0 Comments

As cotton gave way to strawberries in the 1930s as the primary crop in the region around Humboldt, Tennessee, the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival was founded to promote the berry. That first festival was held in 1934, and has been held every May since then, attracting over 100,000 visitors each year. This year’s 78th strawberry fest got underway Sunday with an art exhibition and will conclude Saturday evening with the Territorial Queens Revue. Continue reading

Over six tons of catfish will be served at the World's Biggest Fish Fry.

World’s Biggest Fish Fry, Paris TN, April 18th through 26th 2015

April 15, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Years ago, during a visit to Nashville, TN, we saw signs for the World’s Biggest Fish Fry, which was going on that same weekend, in Paris, TN. Paris is about two hours west of Nashville and we just couldn’t squeeze it in. Sure wish we could’ve, though, ‘cause it sounds like fun! The Fry began in 1938 as Mule Day, but as tractors replaced mules on local farms the Chamber of Commerce looked for something else to celebrate, and in 1953 catfish was the chosen symbol. 1961 was the year they started calling it the World’s Biggest. Is it? Who cares?! Continue reading

The Quilt Auction is the highlight of the Pennsylvania Relief Sale, but don't ignore the homemade Amish and Mennonite food.

Pennsylvania Relief Sale, Harrisburg PA, April 17th and 18th 2015

April 14, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Way back in 1957, Ford Berg, pastor of Zion Mennonite Church near Morgantown, Pennsylvania, organized a relief sale on Ralph Hertzler’s farm. Over $4000 was raised. That Tri-Country Relief Sale (Berks, Chester, and Lancaster) evolved into today’s Pennsylvania Relief Sale, which last year raised $478,000 for the Mennonite Central Committee, which does relief work around the world. The centerpiece of the two-day sale is the auction of over 350 gorgeous, handcrafted quilts. See all the quilts available in this year’s auction in this gallery. Continue reading

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