The Town of Forest City is hosting the first Pimento Cheese Jubilee on Sat., Sept. 28, 2019 from 11AM-7PM at the Pavilion On Park Square (POPS)! The Pimento Cheese Jubilee celebrates "the caviar of the South" and other southern food delicacies. Southern food has seen a huge revival in recent years with staples like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes making their way onto menus at upscale restaurants. Pimento cheese is no different- you can find it being used to enhance other items like burgers, barbecue and more- and we think it deserves to be celebrated!
Courtney Ashley, Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Town of Forest City, is looking forward to a unique event, one of the first of its kind. "Every marketing/event conference I have ever attended has always preached the same message- instead of having a 'Spring Festival' or a 'Fall Festival', find something unique to your community. Just like Amy Bridges did with the Cherry Bounce Festival in June, I wanted to create a festival that highlights a special part of Forest City. I think that some of the best pimento cheese is made right here in Forest City so it just made sense to create a festival around it."
Admission to the Pimento Cheese Jubilee is free to the public, and the event is kid-friendly. In addition to food trucks offering specialty pimento cheese items, burgers, livermush, hot dogs, chicken phillys, BBQ and Italian ice, Forest City's Main Street Committee "Explore Forest City" will have a full concession stand with popcorn, candy, soda, beer and wine. There is also a People's Choice Award for the various pimento cheeses that will be entered. Upon entering the park, people will be given a card with each of the vendors and Main Street restaurants where they will then rank them. Voters will turn in their cards and the PCJ committee will tally the votes, and the winner will be announced before the final band takes the stage at 5:30PM.
Live music will begin at 11:30AM starting with Queen Bee and the HoneyLovers from Asheville. The music continues with Black Coffee Quartet from Shelby at 1PM, Ol' 74 Jazz from Forest City at 2:30PM, The Flying Saucers from Bostic at 4PM and Sammy Sinatra and the Mad Men from Rock Hill at 5:30PM. The booth vendors are local and regional businesses that will give out promotional materials and coupons, display products they sell in their stores and meet new customers as well as local and regional artisans that will display and sell their craft. There will also be free giveaways, inflatables, games and more. Come check out all of the delicious southern dishes that are available in Rutherford County!
POPS is located at 153 Park Square, formally known as Depot Street, in downtown Forest City right off of Main Street. Doors open at 11AM. There are several parking lots located right beside POPS and off of Main Street, and you can find the parking diagram on the event page at townofforestcity.com. Low chairs and blankets are allowed in the grassy seating area. Tobacco, smoking, vaping, pets, umbrellas, professional cameras, flash photography, recording equipment, laser pointers and weapons of any kind are prohibited. The concert is rain or shine. All bags and outside materials are subject to search. No outside food and beverages are allowed.
For more information, call 828.245.0365, visit townofforestcity.com or follow the Town of Forest City and POPS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Submitted by Courtney Ashley