Sweet Tea and Southern Pickin’s Festival Returns August 26-27

Save the date: McKenzie’s annual Sweet Tea and Southern Pickin’s Festival is August 26 and 27. 

 

Kicking off festival weekend is Southern Fried Funnies, presented by Carroll Arts. Southern Fried Funnies is at Park Theatre in downtown McKenzie Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 each, available at the door. 

 

Friday’s festivities begin with an inaugural golf outing at the Carroll Lake Golf Club at 9 a.m. To participate, a four-player team must pay $200 and single golfers must pay $75. Single entries will be paired into groups of four. The outing’s proceeds benefit the McKenzie Chamber of Commerce. Activities and prizes include a silent auction, Closest to the Hole and Long Drive prizes, a 50/50 Raffle, and first- through third place prizes. 

 

The golf outing has open registration until Monday, August 22.  

 

Saturday morning, the Farmer’s Market hosts a Fruit & Vegetable Derby Day. 

 

The “Sweet Tea Classic” Disc Golf Tournament, sanctioned with the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), is Saturday, August 27. Will McKaskle of Dynamic Disc in Nashville will run the tournament’s live digital scoring. Visit discgolfscene.com to register online.

 

With nearly forty vendors, Chamber of Commerce director Monica Heath says the Sweet Tea and Southern Pickin’s Festival has a “good variety this year.” 

 

Festival vendors include American Honey Boutique, W.H. Wax, The Craftist, Twyla Designs, the Red Roof Bakery and Mia Bella Candles, Paradise Silk Soaps, Two Days Tree Farm, LuLu’s Pretty Things, IperionX, A-Door-Able Doors and More, Dorsett Farmhouse, TNT Custom Designs, Maple & Monroe, A Place for Us, PJ’s Family Crafts, Pats Snap Jewelry, WeatherBeard Supply Company, Paracord Stuff & Gifts, Sweet Tea & Polka Dot Designs, ThreeHearts Handbags, Mama Yo’s Peanut and Pecan Brittle, 360 Photo Booth Fun, Dry Hollow Farm, Hillbillies Delight, Alma’s Corner and more. 

 

Festival goers can also expect sweet tea made by Mayor Jill Holland and other concession booths like the Kettle Corn Poppers, the Ball Lady, the Milkshakery, Eddyvilles Weiner Wagon, and Showstopper Concessions. Keesha Johnson will sell sweet tea, lemonade, hoagie sandwiches and fries. 

 

McKenzie’s downtown businesses, including McKenzie Station, Magnolia Mercantile, Prater’s Taters and Urban Trading Company are also open during the festival. 

 

If any local businesses wish to be included in the festivities by offering a special discount or presenting live entertainment, contact Monica Heath or the City of McKenzie.

 

A Kids’ Fun Zone will be set up near the Splash Pad, with bouncy houses and water slides. Susie’s petting zoo will be near the Farmers Market. 

 

Friday night’s musical entertainment is led by the Fajita Bros from 6-8 p.m., followed by the King Beez from 8-10 p.m. Saturday’s music begins at the gazebo at 2 p.m. with Colton Baker & Band. At 6 p.m., Flashback takes the stage, and Paula Bridges follows at 8 p.m.

 

The Sweet Tea and Southern Pickin’s Festival is from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, August 26. Saturday, the festival begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. The festival is in downtown McKenzie. Admission is free.