People Helping Themselves: What a Novel Idea!

The National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, TN, is a wonderful example of people taking action to improve their situation instead of sitting around and waiting for someone to fix it for them! Perhaps it is fitting that South P is known as a small town with a big heart and proud of its roots!

When big shopping centers and a bypass threatened the livelihood of the small town of South Pittsburg, local leaders and citizens came together to secure the long term future of their city. They came up with the idea of a festival in which citizens, organizations and churches could all participate and all share in the rewards. As a result, the city has improved itself immensely through landscaped streets, building ball fields, supporting churches, scouts, libraries, and schools. More importantly, the citizens of South P have a great sense of pride in their small town.

On the last full weekend in April, this small, close-knit community of about 3,500 people draws crowds of over 40,000! The National Cornbread Festival is a week-end long celebration with live music, farm animals, a 5K race, children's corner, exhibits, a classic car show and of course, the National Cornbread Cook-off. If making it is not your thing, then take a stroll down Cornbread Alley and taste nine different kinds of mouth watering cornbread! Let me tell you, this isn't your ordinary cornbread! This year's recipes include Pineapple Cream Cheese Cornbread, Squash Cornbread, Apple Poppers, Cheddar Cornbread, and Mandarin Orange Cornbread.

For more information, you can visit the Cornbread Festival website. The National Cornbread Festival theme song that plays on the home page will really get you in the mood to kick your heels up and head to South P, Tennessee!!

Now, I am off to pack for the Festival -- I am looking forward to eating some cornbread this weekend!