CULLMAN, Ala. – The 24th annual Sweet Tater Festival is scheduled for Labor Day, Monday Sept. 7 at Smith Lake Park from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The festival usually spans two days, but this year, the event has been scaled back due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We normally charge $5 for both days, but we aren’t going to charge any admission this year,” said Cullman County Parks and Recreation Director Doug Davenport. “We don’t know what kind of crowd to anticipate for it and we didn’t want to charge people then not have a good show of vendors. I told the (Cullman County) Commission that I felt it would be a good thing if we just gave back to the community- it’s our last festival of the year- and just make it free and start looking forward to next year.”
The Sweet Tater Festival will feature food vendors, arts and craft vendors, unique entertainment and, of course, sweet taters! While some of the traditional events such as Pepsi chugging and watermelon eating contests have been removed from this year’s festival, the popular car show and golf cart parade will still take place.
The stage at Smith Lake will feature clogging and country and bluegrass entertainers.
Davenport explained, “The reason we did it on Monday is because we already had the car show scheduled. Instead of changing the car show, we will have everything on Monday. We have vendors coming from outside of Cullman.”
He said many vendors are just excited to have an event on their schedule, sharing, “I am hopeful that it turns out to be a good event for them.”
As for masks and social distancing, Davenport said, “It’s state law. I ordered additional signage to put out, and Governor (Kay) Ivey extended mandatory mask wearing until Oct. 2. I don’t know if the sheriff’s office will be enforcing it, but it is state law. That may hurt our turnout. On one hand you have people who are scared to get out in the crowd, and others don’t want to get out in the heat wearing a mask. There are so many aspects with uncertainty; it’s almost like doing the festival for the first time.”
Davenport said he is hopeful for a great turnout and wants to give the community something fun to do while giving the many vendors, who have been loyal to the festival, a chance to have a good day selling their products.
“I am kind of scared,” he said, “but I am also kind of excited to see how the public does react to having something.”
Smith Lake Park is located at 403 County Road 386, Cullman, AL 35057. Find out more at www.facebook.com/SweetTaterFestival.
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