Description: What started as a ham curing contest between Smithfield NC and Smithfield VA in 1985 has grown into a celebration of agriculture with music, vendors, and ham and yam foods galore! Visitors will find country ham biscuits, sweet potato fries, funnel cakes, ice cream, and desserts. YUM!
What started as a contest in 1985...
has grown into a celebration of the agricultural products that Smithfield and Johnston County are known for, with music, ham, and yam foods galore! A barbecue cook-off attracts great cooks from throughout the area to compete for cash prizes, and attendees will also find many varieties of hams and yams at the festival – country ham biscuits, sweet potato fries, funnel cakes, ice cream, and desserts. YUM!
The festival hosts the “What’s That Yam Thing?” contest, a favorite for school-aged children given the opportunity to turn sweet potatoes into works of art. Visitors wander through the festival area filled with hundreds of booths occupied by face painters, local non-profit organizations, and vendors selling items including garden flags, handbags, pottery, handmade jewelry and many other arts and crafts. The family event keeps crowds entertained with performances on multiple stages, children’s games, and car