vidalia onion fest

It's a shame that I won't make this year's Vidalia Onion Festival held in Vidalia, Georgia. It's their 29th annual, if you can believe that. Their website is filled with useful information. First, there's the list of onion growers; some have websites. Guess that's so you can bypass the supermarket/middle-person and buy direct. Next, there's the history of the Onion Festival. Moses Coleman started it all in 1931. Here are other interesting bits taken directly from their history page:

In 1986, Georgia's state legislature passed legislation giving the Vidalia Onion legal status and defining the 20-county production area. The Vidalia Onion was named Georgia's Official State Vegetable by the state legislature in 1990. More than fifty years after its humble beginning, the Vidalia Sweet Onion is a valuable industry for the state. In 1990 it was named Georgia's official vegetable. Onions contribute over $90 million to Georgia’s economy annually.

(photo from http://www.visit-statesboro.com/one_tank_trips.html)

What else? The merchandise is pretty standard: hats, aprons, t-shirts and tote bags.

There is an arts & crafts festival where I hope one could buy all manner of onion-themed wreaths, quilts, flower arrangements, soaps, and pottery; if it's like most arts & crafts festivals affiliated with harvest festivals like I've attended closer to home.

But mostly I was looking at all the events. There's the softball tournament, the Little Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, Music, Culinary extravaganzas, street dancing, a rodeo, an air show, a dutch oven demonstration. Even the library is in on the action. Surely the Vidalia Onion Cook-Off & Tasting is the main event. That, or the World Famous Onion Eating Contest.

Comments

[LLA]

I never get to go to this, because my neighborhood holds a big festival every year on this exact same weekend.

Sigh. I guess I'll never get to meet Yumion, the offical mascot....

[bekka]

Whoa, there's an official mascot? i must not have read that far in the history/events. So what's your neighborhood festival? something oniony? can't wait to hear more about it.

[Kel]

I miss festivals. I hope we can go to a lot while I'm home this summer. I really miss the Farmer's Market in Staunton :( A few more months! We're talking about renting a hybrid while I'm home so we can afford the gas to travel!

[bekka]

the market in Staunton is my favorite. i can't wait to return. can i come with? i want to get more of Farmer Brown's great jellies. and another ham biscuit and.... oh they had the best stuff there. trying to think of other festivals we can experience while you're home.... will get back to you on that.

[LLA]

Yup - there is a mascot, the loveable Yumion - who can be seen: http://www.toombsmontgomerychamber.com/Economic/Ag%20Stats.htm

He also has a whole line of Children's Books: http://www.besweetpublications.com/

Our festival is much more ecclectic - no food mascots, lots of art and crafts and a tour of homes. However, there will be both a beer wagon and a funnel cake stand withing rolling distance of my front porch. And really, isn't that what we go to festivals for?????
http://www.inmanpark.org/festival.php

(Sorry about all the ugly links, I couldn't get hyperlinks to work in my comments....)

[bekka]

amazing. i would find being inside a mascot/character very disturbing; glad i've not had the experience. tours of homes are great. hope your inman park fest is a success this year. i love virginia highlands, but that's not nearby, is it? my atlanta geography is spotty these days. and you can enjoy it all from your front porch! lucky! beer & funnel cakes? what could be better? only funnel cakes opporutunities around here (appalachian fair, jbo fairs--like jbo days, and way off in PF--Dollywood) don't allow/vend beer-- a travesty, for certain.

[LLA]

Actually - VaHi is just a neighborhood or so away - maybe a mile or so??

No beer with your funnel cakes???? Hmmm - going to have to rethink my whole "I want to move back to the triCities" position....

:)

[bekka]

yeah, there's very little drinking in "public." last time I can think of was at the Blue Plum festival in downtown JC. You can walk around with your beer in a solo/dixie cup, but you have to purchase an armband that "allows" you to do so legally.

http://www.blueplum.org/