“Puddin’ on the Line” Twin Cities style Sept. 9-16

Entries may still be made in the contests kicking off the 2023 Banana Festival Sept. 9, as locals and guests enjoy “Puddin’ On The Line” in the Twin Cities of Fulton, Ky. and South Fulton, Tenn.

Preceding Saturday’s competitions, on Sept. 8, a Banana Reception will be staged at The Meadows Hotel in Fulton, to recognize Top Banana memberships, as well as Corporate Sponsorships of the festival, at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.

On Sept. 9, the Fulton Police Department’s Pistol and Turkey Shoot will begin at 9 a.m. at the FPD Shooting Range on Park Road in Fulton. Entry fee is $20 per category entered.

At 7 a.m. on Sept. 9, registration begins for the 5K Color Run on Walnut Street, with the starting lineup at Raise the Bar Gym, and the race to begin at 8 a.m. Entry fee is $25.

The Banana Festival pageants’ registration will begin at a a.m. on Saturday, at Fulton High School, on Stephen Beale Drive. Ages birth through 21 will compete for the title of Baby Miss, 9 a.m.; Mini Miss, 9:30; Tiny Miss, 10 a.m.; Little Miss, 10:30; Junior Miss, 11 a.m.; Pre-Teen Miss, 12 noon; Teen Miss, 12:45 and Miss Banana Festival, 1:30. Start times for on stage may run behind, based on contestant numbers, however each group will not start prior to times given. Entry fee is $25 and admission at the door for spectators is $5.

Photography contest entries will be accepted on Sat., Sept. 9, at downtown Fulton’s Pontotoc Park Community Center on West State Line, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, with entry fee $5 per entry per category.

The Banana Festival Light Pole Decorating Contest will make a return for 2023, with prizes awarded, and light poles decorated beginning Sept. 1, and completed no later than Sept. 11 to be judged. For more information and to have a light pole assigned for decorating, contact Vicki Little, 731-336-4628.

The festival activities continue on Mon., Sept. 11, with the Peace, Love & Foliage event in Pontotoc Park at 6:30 p.m., however tickets for this event are currently sold out.

On Tues., Sept. 12, entries will be accepted for the Banana Bake Off at Fancy Fannie’s, 422 Lake St. in Fulton, beginning at 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Amazing Banana Race and Scavenger Hunt for ages 12-18 is at 5:30 p.m. at Pontotoc Park and Unity Park, and Johnny Mac and the Heart Attacks will perform at 6 p.m. on the Pontotoc Park stage.

On Wed., Sept. 13, Faith and Faith and Family night activities start at 3:30 p.m. and entertainment is at 7 p.m. Tyson’s free community meal is at 5 p.m., a chalk art contest runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the Kiddie Parade begins at 6 p.m., with a theme of “Puddin’ On The Ritz”.

Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 14-16, the days are full in the Twin Cities, as are the nights, with a special event for senior citizens at 9 a.m. Thursday, at no cost to participants, a hot wheel derby Thursday at 5 at First Community Bank of the Heartland in South Futon and at 7 p.m., Fulton’s Got Talent competition takes place in Unity Park.

Friday, a free health fair is staged at Fulton First Baptist Church from 9-11 a.m.; 2022 Fulton’s Got Talent Winner Madison Scott performs in free concert at 6 p.m. and headliner Parmalee takes the stage for a free concert at 7:30 p.m. in Unity Park.

All day Saturday, the downtown Fulton and South Fulton area will draw a crowd for the Rotary Car Show, Kiwanis Cornhole Tournament, Banana Eating contest, Banana Brawl wrestling, the Doggy Pageant, the Kayser dunking booth to benefit the dog pound, and the Lions Club Grande Parade which begins at 4 p.m.

The 2023 Fulton’s Got Talent winner will take the stage at 5:30 p.m., local band Ethan Torsak performs at 6:20 p.m., Alexis Wilkins will be in concert at 7:40 p.m. and headliner Raelynn performs on Unity Park stage at 8:30 p.m.

For the complete schedule of events, see page 6 of this week’s edition of The Current, visit the Banana Festival website at www.thebananafestival.com, or contact the Fulton Tourism Commission inside Fulton City Hall.