Tomato Festival to be Held July 26-28 In Rutledge
Staff Photos by Michael Williams
The 21st annual Tomato Festival will be held in Rutledge beginning July 26-28. The festival promises fun for the whole family with a 5-K road race, a beauty contest, arts, crafts, antique tractors, music and of course the world famous tomato wars.
The three day festival kicks off Friday the 26th at Rutledge Middle School with the Grainger County Opry, featuring local musical talent. The show starts at 7 p.m. tickets are required for this event.
On Saturday morning the fun kicks into high gear with a variety of events featuring fun for the whole family. Events include the Mater Madness 5K run, an art Show and living history, antique agricultural equipment, the beauty pageant, regional authors, historians, a working Civil War field artillery group and an exhibit of authentic Civil War apparel. 
A Civil War encampment, corn shuck doll making, quilt making, grain grinding and other period demonstrations will also be exhibited. Live music by area gospel, country and rock acts will be featured on three stages. And the highly anticipated tomato wars will be waged during the beginning Saturday morning. Contestants are invited to descend on the Field of Glory and wage war hurling overly ripened tomatoes at opposing teams.
The Old Time Vesper Service will be held Sunday at 10 AM.
Vendors will be on hand selling food, souvenirs, cold drinks, produce and of course Grainger County Tomatoes. Children can play in the Kid Zone where numerous attractions will keep the young ones entertained.
For more information and a complete schedule visit:
www.graingercountytomatofestival.com
