For the first time since 2019, the Mush, Music & Mutts: NC's Official Fall Liver Mush Festival will be held in Uptown Shelby on Saturday, Oct.15, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Not only is this the first time we have held the festival in several years, but we also are adding some new elements," says Emily Epley, Travel and Tourism Director for Cleveland County.

Cornerstone Dental will host a Kids Zone at this year's festival. Musician Will Parker will be providing music for kids ages 1-100, and Hometrust Bank and Central United Methodist Church will partner to provide mini-pumpkin painting.

"We are also bringing back the kids' costume parade," says Epley. "Kids will meet up with festival staff and some members of local ukele band The Dancing Fleas, and then they will all parade a couple of times around the court square."

Epley says that costumes are welcome but not required for the parade. All participating children will receive a bag and will be given a few goodies along the way.

RollOver Pets will have their usual fun activities for pets, such as musical sit and dynamo dogs, along with the pet costume contest and pet parade.

"In addition to the well-loved regular events like the liver mush eating contest, we will also return to the in-person liver mush recipe and cooking contest," says Epley. "A new twist this year is that each contestant will designate a local non-profit on their application, and that charity group will receive a match on the dollars if that person wins an award. So, for example, if you win the top prize of $500, the non-profit you included on your application will also receive $500!"

One new addition to the festival is a liver mush cookoff.

"We partnered with Cleveland Community College (CCC) and the college's Culinary Program Instructor Jeanette Sun to present the liver mush cookoff. There will be two CCC culinary students who will be given an unlimited amount liver mush and a "mystery box" of ingredients. Both contestants will have to come up with a tasty dish using those ingredients. Three local judges will then decide who will be the 2022 Liver Mush Cookoff Champion!"

Epley says that Greenbrook Design is both a sponsor and host for both the cookoff and the liver mush eating contest. However, both events will be livestreamed and will not be open to the public. Designated VIPs will have exclusive access to the showroom.

"Those contestants and sponsors and their guests will be able to see and experience these events up close and personal in the beautiful Greenbrook Design showroom and kitchen while enjoying light refreshments," says Epley.

Meanwhile, others can watch the contest via livestream at the festival.

Cash prizes will be $500, $350 and $250 for the recipe contest, and the winner of the cookoff will also win $500.

Other highlights of the festival include:

• Cleveland County YMCA Family Fun Zone

• Fantastic music lineup on the main stage (plus some impromptu playing around the festival)

• A wide variety of vendors

"We also have updated our liver mush festival logo and will have some fun t-shirts, ball caps and stickers available for sale," says Epley.

For more information about the liver mush festival, pages 12 & 13 of this issue of Shelby Shopper & Info. To volunteer or enter a contest, visit the liver mush festival Facebook page, www.facebook.com/nclivermushfestival.