There was lots to do and see and hear – and, of course, plenty of cold, southern-style sweet tea to drink – during this year’s Sweet Tea & Southern Pickin’s Festival Friday and Saturday in downtown McKenzie.
The downtown park was packed out with dozens of venders selling a wide variety of wares, arts and crafts booths, and treats of all kinds to eat and drink, and there were still more venders, treats, and attractions at the McKenzie Farmers Market, the Merchants Outlet Mall, the McKenzie Antique Mall, and other locations in the downtown area.
“We are very excited about how today went,” said McKenzie Mayor Jill Holland on Saturday.
Holland was out at the Farmers Market Saturday morning serving free tea and greeting the public. The mayor said that over 400 people had come through the market before noon.
And this year’s festival was loaded with top notch musical entertainment with performances by Noah Smyth, Tera Townsend, Chris McGuigan, the TOM band, Flashback, and Hog Slog String Band.
Marty Marbry served as guest speaker during the festival luncheon on Saturday, speaking about the joys and pitfalls of starting and running a booth business.
McKenzie resident Angela Brooks won the Biggest Sunflower Contest.