The 41st Annual Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 1 with the arts and crafts festival on Main Street.
In addition to the many arts and crafts, there will be a 5K run/walk, judging of various contests including sweet potato creatures, a sweet potato tasting booth, pie eating contests, a domino tournament, and the fire department’s “famous barbeque chicken dinner.”
Live entertainment will go on throughout the day including Kay Bain of WTVA’s Morning Show at 11:30 a.m. on the stage at Veterans’ Park.
The information booth will be set up offering a wide variety of products including sweet potato t-shirts, caps and cookbooks. The popular Antique Tractor Show will be setup at BancorpSouth.
The 5K Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. on Main Street with registration at 7 a.m.
One of the most popular attractions at the festival each year is the Sweet Potato Tasting Booth where you can sample ten sweet potato foods prepared and donated by sweet potato farm families. This booth opens at 10 a.m.
Contest judging begins at 11 a.m. Contests include Washed/Waxed Bushels of Vardaman Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Creatures, artwork, photography, and writing. (Writing entries have already been submitted.)
The messy, but always entertaining Sweet Potato Pie Eating Contest will begin at 11 a.m. with cash prizes for first place in each division. The contest will be located in front of the main stage by Veteran’s Park.
The Vardaman Fire Department’s “Famous Barbecued Chicken Dinner” will be available at 11 a.m. Tickets will be sold at the fire station and then the plates can be picked up at “The Front Porch” building on Main Street.
A new addition this year is “IWF Wrestling” which will be held in the VHS gym Saturday at 7 p.m. Admission is $10. Children six years old and younger admitted free.
The Sweet Potato King and Queen Pageants will go on throughout next week beginning Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. for 0-23 months. Two-years-old to kindergarten for girls and 2-3-year-old boys will be Monday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
First grade through sixth grade will be Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Seventh through 12th grade will take the stage Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
The Original Sweet Potato Recipe Contest will be Saturday, Nov. 8. at 1 p.m. All entries must be turned in to the VHS cafeteria before 1 p.m.
The festival banquet will conclude the week’s festivities that Saturday night beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Banquet tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
For more information on the festival call 662-682-7559, email sweetpotatofestival39@yahoo.com or visit the festival website at vardamansweetpotatofestival.org.
Festival Calendar
Saturday, Nov. 1
8 a.m. 5K Run/Walk
9 a.m. Domino tournament in Sweet Potato Festival building on Main Street
10 a.m. Sweet Potato Tasting Booth, Antique Tractor Show at BancorpSouth parking lot
11 a.m. Sweet Potato Pie Eating contest, VFD’s BBQ chicken dinner, sweet potato judging
7 p.m. IWF Wrestling in VHS gym
Festival Entertainment
Saturday, Nov. 1
Veterans’ Park Stage
9 a.m. Danny Watkins
10 a.m. Aaron Sims
10:30 a.m. Mitchell Johnson
11 a.m. Pie Eating Contest
11:30 a.m. Kay Bain Band
1 p.m. Call Our Trio
2 p.m. Awaiting Arrival
Stage by First Baptist
9 a.m. East Webster Singers
10 a.m. Flat Top Session
11 a.m. Danny Watkins and Friends
12:30 p.m. Will Obarr
1 p.m. Mollie Beard
1:30 p.m. Michael Locke
2 p.m. Fiction Band