National Cornbread Festival

2017 National Cornbread Festival

By: Lodge Cast Iron / August 14, 2017

April is here, and we're busy preparing for one of our favorite events: The National Cornbread Festival! Each year during the last full weekend in April, our small, historic hometown of South Pittsburg, Tennessee draws thousands of visitors to celebrate this staple of southern food and cast iron cooking.

A main dish cornbread entry in the Cook-off

This year, we’ve got ten excellent contestants competing in the National Cornbread Cook-off, a search for the nation's best main dish cornbread recipe. Past winning recipes include the Festive Good Luck Cornbread Skillet, Monte Cristo Cornbread Skillet Supper, and Mediterranean Cornbread Caprese. The Cook-Off will be held on April 29, the first day of the two-day festival.

The National Cornbread Festival is also the only time of year that Lodge opens its foundry doors to the public for free public tours. The foundry will be open both days during the Festival and visitors are invited inside to see exactly how cast iron is made in the Lodge foundry.

Other Festival events include arts and crafts vendors, live musical performances, a 5K race, kids activities, carnival rides, historic tours of South Pittsburg, cooking demos, a bluegrass jam tent, and more! The Festival will be held in downtown South Pittsburg, TN on April 29-30. For a full schedule and additional Festival information, please visit the National Cornbread Festival website.

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2017 National Cornbread Festival

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