36th Annual Sweet Potato Festival Is Saturday PDF Print E-mail
By JOEL McNEECE
The 36th Annual Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival kicks off this Saturday 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, 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 and local favorite Southern Praise.
The information booth will be set up offering a wide variety of products including sweet potato t-shirts, caps and cookbooks. A display of sweet potato farm equipment will also be on hand along with the Antique Tractor Show at BancorpSouth.
The 5K Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. on Main Street. Entry fee is $18 on day of race or $15 in advance. The finish line will once again be provided by the Tupelo Running Club.
Contest judging begins at 10 a.m. with registration  at 9:30. Contests include Washed/Waxed Bushels of Vardaman Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Creatures, artwork, photography, and writing. (Writing entries required an October 21 postmark.)
One of the most popular attractions at the festival each year is the Sweet Potato Tasting Booth where for only $3 you can sample 10 delicious sweet potato foods prepared and donated by sweet potato farm families. This booth opens at 10 a.m.
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. at the Fire Station.  All proceeds will go toward the Vardaman Summer League Baseball/Softball Program.
The Sweet Potato King and Queen Pageants will go on throughout next week beginning Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. for 0-23 months. Kindergarten to 2-years-old will be Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. First grade through sixth grade will be Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Seventh through 12th grade will take the stage Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
The Original Sweet Potato Recipe Contest will be Saturday, Nov. 14. 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. This year’s Sweet Potato Quilt will be auctioned at the conclusion of the banquet. Banquet tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.