Site Sponsors
Archives
Read past editions of Images of Johnston County magazine.
Local Advertisers
Site Sponsors
Contact Us
Feedback
Let us know your thoughts...
Advertising Info
Need more info? Looking for ad specifications?
Local Advertisers
Culture
Festivals of Every Kind Are on Tap in Johnston County
Fourth of July festivities take place in the Smithfield Town Commons.
Folks in Johnston County love a party. They have festivals throughout the year that celebrate everything from strawberries and mules to ham and yams.
“2008 will be our 24th annual [Smithfield] Ham & Yam Festival. It’s grown from a Saturday gathering to two full days with more than 20‚000 visitors‚” says Chris Johnson‚ executive director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corp.‚ which sponsors the Ham & Yam Festival.
Held the first weekend in May‚ the Ham & Yam Festival includes a barbecue cook-off‚ pageant‚ a 5K run called The Hog Trot‚ pig races‚ live entertainment‚ car shows‚ 125 food and craft vendors‚ children’s activities and a sweet potato pie eating contest.
“Vendors sell baked sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries‚ and the Kiwanis always sells ham and biscuits‚” Johnson says. “The entertainment stages feature national entertainment‚ such as Eddie Money.”
Downtown Smithfield Development also sponsors the annual Friends of the 4th Independence Day celebration at the historical Smithfield Town Commons. The celebration includes rides‚ games‚ musical entertainment and fireworks.
The fourth weekend of September‚ Benson hosts its annual Benson Mule Days‚ which draws as many as 70‚000 spectators for rodeos‚ mule-pulling contests‚ arts and crafts‚ vendors‚ street dances‚ bluegrass shows‚ carnival rides and parades. Also in September‚ Clayton sponsors a Harvest Festival that packs Main Street with rides‚ food‚ arts and crafts‚ and live entertainment.
Several Johnston County communities hold Christmas tree lightings and parades in December and‚ in April‚ Cleveland welcomes visitors for its annual Strawberry Festival. Now in its eighth year‚ the Strawberry Festival includes traditional festival attractions as well as The Great Strawberry Bake-Off‚ where bakers can win cash prizes.
For more information‚ visit www.johnstoncountync.org.
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Ian Curcio
Additional Culture Articles
© Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc.
All rights reserved. No portion of this Web site may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.