CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. – The 25th Annual Smith Lake Park Sweet Tater Festival will take place this Labor Day weekend. The two-day event will take place Sunday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is $5 and the armband received is good for both days. The festival will feature arts, music, food and most importantly, sweet taters!!
Cullman County Park and Rec Director Doug Davenport and his staff are busy after the last two days of rain getting the park ready for this weekend’s festival. Davenport is looking forward to the 25-year milestone of the popular festival as well as it being the first year for the event since Governor Ivey designated the “sweet tater” as the official vegetable of Alabama.
Last year, there was an issue with the local growers that led to a festival, but no sweet taters. Davenport said, “I spoke to the farmer who normally supplies the sweet taters, and he assures me that he has us taken care of this year.” Sweet potatoes are typically not ready for digging until early October, so the potatoes for the Sweet Tater Festival are not only Cullman County grown, but dug specially for the festival.
Besides the taters, at last count, Davenport reports that 65 vendors had registered for the festival. He said, “As of right now, that is down from last year, but many have been waiting to sign-up. With the spike in COVID cases, some are cautious and want to wait and make sure an event isn’t canceled before registering.”
On Monday, get ready for the Sweet Tater Labor Day Car Show. The show will be from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. under the trees with several classifications. Registration is $15. All money from the registration will go back out to the participants in prize money or the 50/50 raffle that will take place with the car show. Local businesses have also donated door prizes.
Davenport has planned for food and drink vendors to be located at the car show as well as the main festival. He said, “A lot of those guys don’t want to leave their cars or the show to grab a bite to eat or a cold drink. This year we will have vendors at the car show for them.”
A great line-up of music, dancing and other fun events are scheduled throughout the festival.
Sunday
9:30 a.m. – Kyle Kimbrell
noon – Tremayne
2:30 p.m. – Clog Wild Cloggers
3:30 p.m. – Golf Cart Parade
4 p.m. – Shackelford Lane
Monday
9:30 a.m. – Yellow Dandies
11 a.m. – Stepdads
noon – Sweet Tater Relay Contest
12:30 p.m. – Allen Tolbert Unit
2:30 p.m. – The Major Dudes
The Smith Lake Park pool will be open and kayak, canoe and paddle boards will be available for rental.
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