Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, October 20, 2008 21:23
Tabor City is a small North Carolina community that at one time thrived on its tobacco and sweet potato farms. Tobacco farming in the area is rapidly dwindling, but yams are still going strong: the town received its nickname, “Yam Capitol of the World,” in the 1930’s. The celebration of that yam heritage begins this Thursday (10/23/08) at the 38th Annual North Carolina Yam Festival (actually, these things they call yams here are, botanically speaking, sweet potatoes; NC is the largest grower in the country).
The Sweet Potato Cook-Off takes place on Saturday. Contestants will compete, using original recipes, in adult and youth divisions. There will be exhibits for your perusal at the Yam Festival Headquarters, something called Taste of Tabor on Thursday evening, for $30 per person, which we think is a special dinner, yam exhibits at the public library, the Yam Festival Parade Saturday morning, a Sweet Potato Quality Contest, potato crafts, and much more.
