It’s about Yam Time: Festival is Saturday

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Preparations for the 2026 North Carolina Yam Festival at Tabor City, a 55 year tradition, are pretty much complete with a host of activities already in the rear-view, “The Big Yam Day!” looming on Saturday, Oct. 24.

     Special honors have already been handed out during separate festival events this week, including the Juanita Cook “Miss Puddin’ ‘N Pie’ Spirit Award given to The Todd House Wedding & Event Center manager Pam Byrd during a worker appreciation breakfast Tuesday; and the inaugural Yam Festival Legend Award handed to longtime mascot and volunteer Curtis “Tiger Tater” Lovette during Thursday’s Taste of Tabor dinner and social event held at Sunnyfield Equestrian Farm.

     Lovette made the presentation to Byrd, and festival manager Cynthia Nelson presented Lovette with the Legend Award in an emotional tribute to his dedicated service not only as the festival mascot, but as a volunteer and leader in countless ways.

     More than 200 children from Tabor City School and Bri’s Caring Heart Child Care made the walk from the classroom to downtown, many dressed for Halloween. Many of the business owners and employees were also dressed for the season in a variety of costumes with Toy Story and The Wizard of Oz among the common themes.

     All of the children walked away with plenty of candy from the businesses.

Still to come

     Mother Nature seems to be smiling for the 2026 festival with clear, cool skies in the forecast, and plenty on the schedule.

     Some highlights for Saturday include:

• 5K Walk/Run: Sponsored by Tabor City Emergency Services, this event begins at 7 a.m. and the Tabor City EmS building on the corner of East 5^th and Jones streets.
• Vendors: Vender spaces sold out, festival leaders say, so look for plenty of food, crafts and more on Hickman Road, East Fourth Street, East Fifth Street, Live Oak Street, and around the Todd House Wedding & Event Center Stage beginning at 9 a.m.
• KidsZone, in the Garrell Depot parking area, will feature Flimsy the Clown, carnival games, inflatables and more. It’s free, thanks to sponsors.
• Yam Festival Parade: More than 125 entries are expected including high school bands, clowns, area pageant holders, Shrine units, emergency vehicles, floats, and more. It all starts at 10 a.m. on Main Street and East Fifth Street, and will wind down Main to Green Sea Road, across the tracks to Hickman Road, on to Bell Street, Pireway Road, East 5^th Street, to Wall Street.
• Sweet Potato giveaway: Kicking off just after the parade in the Tabor City Public Library parking lot, this annual event draws a crowd for the free “yams.”
• Pie eating contest: Always fun and messy, this year’s contest will be in front of the Todd House Wedding & Event Center Stage at 11:30 a.m., kicking off the local entertainment schedule there.
• Speaking of entertainment, a second stage on Hickman Road will include JamieLynn and Carolina Sunset and a variety of other musical acts starting after the parade.
• Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Show: Check out the entries, with plenty of winners, at The Todd House Wedding & Event Center from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Basic Life Support Competition: Hosted by Tabor City EmS and held at their station on the corner of East Fifth and Jones streets, this competition will begin at 1 p.m.
• Stallion Classic. Hosted by and held at South Columbus High School, this annual competition of marching band excellence has some 16 competitors signed up with the 3 p.m. program expected to last into the evening. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children Kindergarten through high school, free for those 5 and younger.