Just down Interstate 40 West, right past Bucksnort, Tenn, is the small town of Lobelville. It is quiet and there is a lot there. You’ll see a Dollar General Store and Heath’s Grocery store. Heath’s has been there for decades. Perry County, Lobelville and Linden, are on the Buffalo River and are known for the great canoeing, kayaking and fishing.
Fish frys are quiet the popular past-time and the people of Perry County can bring on some Catfish cooking. So where better to host the Inaugural State of Tennessee Catfish Cookoff.
So, the Buffalo River Resort is the place to be on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28. Not only will there be Catfish, but some of the best bands around will be playing. The Charlie Daniels Band, Blackberry Smoke, The Marshall Tucker Band, Stacy Mitchhart and several more acts. The complete lineup is on their website atwww.buffaloriverresortfest.com
It is a family event, including Rock Climbing, Bungee Run, Mechanical Bull, Bounce houses, various vendors selling all kinds of homemade sweets, crafts and arts of all kinds. There will be TV Celebrities, NFL Football Players and, of course, music. Lots of top of the line music.
Festivals of these caliber typically have a hefty ticket price. But you can go to this festival for only $70 for both days. One-day passes are available, however, two-day passes are the best deal. Also, children 12 and under are free. VIP Passes are also available, to enjoy the show up close.
Thanks to the Governor of the State of Tennessee, this festival is the Official site of the Inaugural State of Tennessee Catfish Cook-off. Be a part of history and participate in the first of this annual cook-off. There are $6,000 in cash and prizes. There will also be a silent auction to benefit a local charity.
The event is sponsored by Timber Ridge U.S.A., Bud Light, Nick and Bubba’s, Bank of Perry County and Right Care Clinic.
The event is the brainchild of Nick Spicer and Rob Inman. They have been friends for over 25 years and are business partners at Nick & Bubba’s in Hohenwald. The goal is to help out the community and bring in revenue from all over.
“We hope it brings a big economic stimulation to the community,” says Nick. “This is something new and original that everyone could be proud of and rally behind. We have hopes to bring people from other areas of the state to create an economic circle.”
With their highly marketable “Tennessee State Championship Catfish Cook-Off”, which is in fact the only state-sanctioned event of its kind in Tennessee, Rob and Nick may have created just what this region needs. “We knew we needed something original, and when we thought about it a while, it dawned on me that something original was a state-championship cook-off.”
Mayor John Carroll and the Perry County Commissioners endorsed the idea, after Spicer submitted the request.
“They jumped on board, loved the idea, and passed it along to their state representative. He was on board, too, and it was unanimously voted on in the house March of 2012 by Representative John Tidwell, Senator Roy Herron and Senator Jim Tracy.”
Beginning early Saturday morning, the cook off will host teams from Madison, Decatur, and Lewis Counties.
Gates open at 7 a.m., and on site camping is available. For more information, visit www.BuffaloRiverResortFest.com, follow them on Twitter, and like them on Facebook for updates and more information. Come join the fun for this pioneering idea and community-focused event.
Written by Krys Midgett
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