28th Annual 2020
Grainger County Tomato Festival In TN. is postponed until 2021
Our reason for canceling the festival this year (2020) is because of the covid-19 pandemic. The school where the festival is held has already been sanitized for the coming school year that starts the day after the festival is over. Our concern is for our vendors, participants, festival organizers, and school children's health.The Governor doesn't want to think about large gatherings until August which is after the Tomato Festival schedule.
The farmers in Grainger County are still growing and selling our world famous tomatoes and other amazing veggies. Please take a beautiful country drive to our mountainous county to visit with our farmers in their stores on their farms to buy those juicy tomatoes you love. We also have the most beautiful lake in the country that is perfect for recreation and social distancing. Our small businesses would be thrilled to accommodate all your needs during your travels.
The farmers in Grainger County are still growing and selling our world famous tomatoes and other amazing veggies. Please take a beautiful country drive to our mountainous county to visit with our farmers in their stores on their farms to buy those juicy tomatoes you love. We also have the most beautiful lake in the country that is perfect for recreation and social distancing. Our small businesses would be thrilled to accommodate all your needs during your travels.
Postponed July 24, 25, & 26 2020 Postponed
Hours: Friday noon to 8pm
Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday noon to 5pm
Grainger County Tomato Festival
7480 Rutledge Pike
Rutledge Tn 37861
Hours: Friday noon to 8pm
Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday noon to 5pm
Grainger County Tomato Festival
7480 Rutledge Pike
Rutledge Tn 37861
Painting by Wendy Leedy
The Grainger County Tomato Festival was organized in 1992 to promote our world famous Grainger County Tomatoes. Our mission is to promote all Grainger County agricultural products, specifically the Grainger County Tomato, and to promote the many local artists, authors, talent, and craftsmen we have in our area. Over the years we have added a number of special events making the festival one of the largest free festivals in East Tennessee and has been named by Parade magazine as one of the top ten festivals in the USA.
The festival is always the last full weekend in July in Rutledge,Tennessee. Be sure to mark your calendars! You don't want to miss it.
The Tomato Festival is a family event, and we ask all our vendors and visitors to please be considerate and not smoke (cigarettes, vapes, cigars, pipes, etc...) nor have alcohol on the festival grounds. Good Southern manners that will make your mamaw proud is all we ask for. Thank you.
The festival is always the last full weekend in July in Rutledge,Tennessee. Be sure to mark your calendars! You don't want to miss it.
The Tomato Festival is a family event, and we ask all our vendors and visitors to please be considerate and not smoke (cigarettes, vapes, cigars, pipes, etc...) nor have alcohol on the festival grounds. Good Southern manners that will make your mamaw proud is all we ask for. Thank you.
We will have an ATM on the grounds and it will be located inside the elementary school front entrance.
Courtesy of Citizens Bank & Trust of Grainger County
Courtesy of Citizens Bank & Trust of Grainger County
Here is a link to some of the tomato growers in Grainger County
https://extension.tennessee.edu/Grainger/Pages/GraingerCountyFarmersPage.aspx
https://extension.tennessee.edu/Grainger/Pages/GraingerCountyFarmersPage.aspx
2020 Case Knifes
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Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato
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The 6th edition of the Grainger County Tomato Festival Case XX pocket knife is ripe for harvest!!
The Grainger County Tomato Festival Case Pocket Knife celebrates the Cherokee Purple/Black tomatoes this year for 2020. This heirloom tomato is just one variety that Grainger County farmers have been growing for many years. People love this low acid tomato because of its sweeter flavor and beautiful colors.
This mini trapper Case knife has beautiful smooth black handles along with the date and number
stamped on the bolsters. The tomato festival is proud to bring this great knife
into the family of collectible Case knives into the series. The cost will be only
$55.00. To pre-order your knife contact the UT Extension at 865-828-3411.
The Grainger County Tomato Festival Case Pocket Knife celebrates the Cherokee Purple/Black tomatoes this year for 2020. This heirloom tomato is just one variety that Grainger County farmers have been growing for many years. People love this low acid tomato because of its sweeter flavor and beautiful colors.
This mini trapper Case knife has beautiful smooth black handles along with the date and number
stamped on the bolsters. The tomato festival is proud to bring this great knife
into the family of collectible Case knives into the series. The cost will be only
$55.00. To pre-order your knife contact the UT Extension at 865-828-3411.
Thank you AJC Media for this amazing birds eye view of the festival.
We will be back better than ever in 2021
We will be back better than ever in 2021
Pets are welcome and we have several water stations on the festival grounds. We also have misting tents for coolig off that the critters and their people love.
Art Show
Bring your art show entries to the elementary school on ready to hang unless it is 3D. We have several categories that you can enter your pieces in for both children and adults. We have a limit of three per artist. Be sure to fill out the little tags to identify your piece when you drop them off. Judging will be done at the end of the day and you can see the winners on Saturday.
Bring your art show entries to the elementary school on ready to hang unless it is 3D. We have several categories that you can enter your pieces in for both children and adults. We have a limit of three per artist. Be sure to fill out the little tags to identify your piece when you drop them off. Judging will be done at the end of the day and you can see the winners on Saturday.
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Tomato Festival Sponsors Platinum New South Credit Union Citizens Bank And Trust of Grainger Co. Murlin's Music World Nyrstar Tennessee Mines Clayton Homes Grainger Co. Local Government Diamond WCRK 105.7 FM WJDT 106.5 FM WBGQ 100.7 FM Grainger Today King Pure Water Golden Corral Restaurant WMTN Country Legends 93.3 TARR CHEVROLET TARR HYUNDAI |
Gold Appalachian Electric Cooperative 25 Years Ronnie Johnson Frontier Communications Frontier Communications en Espaniol Dr. Duck Family Medicine Jeremy Gordon State Farm CO OP of Grainger County The Frame House Down Home Restaurant & Catering Henrys Carpet Service Burger Barn Country Storage |
WE NEED SPONSORS, and you can help by downloading the sponsor application and mailing it in with a check. It's great advertising for businesses. Without your sponsorships we have no Tomato Festival.
| sponsorship_information.pdf |
Church Service
Dance Stage (stage 2)
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Rita and Susan Key will be back this year with their delectable and creative chocolates. They will be located in the elementary school.
We would like to congratulate The Chocolate Ladies on their wins at Chocolate Fest |
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The Primitive Quartet
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Sponsors
Food City Subway Smith's Drugstore Clayton Homes of Rutledge Norris Homes Duck Family Medicine Blue Springs Baptist Church Adriel Missionary Baptist Church WJDT Radio Praise 96.3 Grainger County Parks and Recreation Wild Horse Knives |
Grainger County Opry
Performers
Randy Holt Phillip Ellis Ambria Collins Christin Greenlee Gospel Strings Cooter Daniel Tommy White Cliff & Betty Justice Darla Daniel Madeline Hurst Alexis Patterson Steadfast Grass Jodie Roach Mark Livesay Special guest Tommy Stephan and comedy by "Minnie Pearl" Audience Participation, Door Prizes Entertainers subject to change *Performers are subject to change Main Stage
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John Beckwith
He will be bringing a display of his hand made reproduction Indian Trade Silver and historic crosses to the Living History area this year. It is made using traditional methods and materials like sterling silver and brass. The patterns are all original pieces. He will also be working on his wooden spoons and walking sticks at the festival. Look for him on the other side of the tree from Kelvin the black smith.and historic crosses. 
Spicy Chicks Soups & Dips
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Kelvin Ryder the Blacksmith
Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree, The Village Smithy Stands. Our blacksmith will be returning for the 8th year. He is the owner of Homegrown Forge, and makes a number of items including railroad spike knives, equipment for outdoor cooking and various small items. He will be demonstrating under the big tree in the Living History area and as always happy to answer any questions you may have about blacksmithing. Alexus Rednour Floral Arrangement &
1038 Furniture You can find these vendors and more in the commercial area behind the elementary school. 
Chadwick's Dips
Shanna & Jason Wyatt have over 30 flavors of all natural vegetable and dessert dips from mild to wild. Asiago Prime Rib Fruity Berry Bacon cheeseburger Key LimeSea Sundried Tomato Pesto Salt Caramel Inferno (Made with ghost pepper) Mention you saw us on the Tomato Festival Website and you get a free dip from our mystery bag with any purchase 
Arthur Bohanan
is an internationally award winning patented inventor, researcher, lecturer and writer, a Certified Latent Print Examiner and a certified police instructor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from East Tennessee State University with further studies at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mr. Bohanan created the first Internet Crimes Against Children, ICAC, task force in Tennessee in 1998 and worked in an online undercover capacity until he retired in May of 2001 as a Police Specialist III, former AFIS Manager and a Senior Forensic Examiner with the Knoxville Police Department (26 years). Mr. Bohanan twice received the Knoxville Police Officer of the Year award. He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in Atlanta, sponsored by the Inventors Clubs of America, with two distinguished awards plus a doctorate in science and technology for pioneering research involving children’s fingerprints. He has responded to many major disasters including the Columbia Space Disaster, the World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina. He also assisted in eight airline crashes to help identify the human remains. Dr. Bohanan will be in the elementary school at this years festival with his books for sale. He will also be giving two talks about his work and discoveries. Times and place to be announced. |
Historic Calendars are Back
The Grainger County Historic Society will have the 2020 calendars featuring drawings by Wendy Leedy for sale at the Tomato Festival inside the elementary school. 
2019 Grainger County Tomato Festival T-Shirt
This year’s festival t-shirt may be purchased at Smith’s Drug Store in Rutledge, Okie’s II Pharmacy in Blaine, Grainger Today in Bean Station, and at the festival. Prices are $12 for sizes small, medium, large and extra large and $15 for sizes 2XL and 3XL. 
2019
Soaring Sparrow
Elmo
As always we are proud to have the Kerbela Engineers of Morristown Shriners Elmo Train back. Bring the kids for a ride on this cute and colorful train and help the Shrines raise money to help children in need. 
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Tomato Wars
All of the money raised by the Tomato Wars will go to YOKE this year
What Is YOKE? YOKE helps transform communities by mentoring middle school students, equipping young leaders, engaging local churches, and enriching local schools. Founded in Knoxville in 1977, YOKE now has volunteer mentors serving at 31 schools across 6 counties in East Tennessee, including right here at Rutledge Middle School. For more information on YOKE and how you can get involved, visit yokeyouth.com. Authors
In the elementary school We have several accomplished authors at the festival this year. They are all inside with the air conditioning where you can meet them, buy their books and get them personalized. We also have some folks that can help you with your genealogy research.
Barbara Moore
We are thrilled to have Barbara Moore at The Tomato Festival this year. She hand makes one of a kind traditional Native American designs. Her collections include hand painted leather jewelry (earrings, barrettes,& bracelets) off loom bead work, dream catchers, and medicine wheels. Be sure to go see her in the living history section up on the hill beside the middle school. Living History Exhibition
Clinch Mountain Soap
You can find these beautifully hand made lye soaps in the agriculture area in front of the middle school. They will be making old fashion lye soap in a kettle right there on sight. Check out their facebook page to see the scents they offer Leather Smith
Living History welcomes back Gary Prater, our leather worker from Knoxville. Gary makes a number of leather items in a wide price range but he really enjoys making items of historical interest. He is skilled in many leather techniques and has lots of tools he loves to talk about. If you need something custom made, come see Gary. |
Jeremy Gordon, State Farm
Come out and test your luck on Jeremy's wheel of prizes. Like a good neighbor Jeremy is there for us as a GOLD sponsor. We greatly appreciate all our sponsors. Thank You. Rustic Relics by Lora Sinard
You can find Lora inside the elementary school with the air conditioning. We love to see whats new in Lora's world like her wall hangings, stuffed veggies, Christmas, and Halloween decorations. Story Teller
Our story teller is Harry Bumgardner, a member of the Sons of the Revolution. He knows most everything a man needs to know about the early history of our country. Be sure and bring the young folks by to see him because he has a variety of things to talk about. We look forward to his flint lock demonstrations and we hope he brings the 50 caliber! Be sure and visit the long hunter's camp located near the Living History area. Food
Veggie Vendors
Zi Olive
Leslie O'Neill from Zi Olive will have Delicious gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinagars at the Tomato Festival this year. Take home a bottle of each and get a great head start on dinner for that night. They will be located behind the elementary school with the commercial vendors. Sewing
New to the Living History area this year is Susan Libby. She makes a number of hand crafted fabric items. History buffs and antique lovers will have a particular interest in her early sewing machines. She will be bringing a 1860's Davis treadle sewing machine and a 1906 Singer treadle machine. For those of you who only know about shiny electronic sewing machines, come see Susan and see how great grandma made her fabric items. |
Gospel Stage
Pottery by Jenni Kelly
Returning as the Living History potter is Jenni Kelly of Kelly Pottery in Rockwood. While she makes many things, she enjoys making items from early American designs. She will be demonstrating clay on the wheel techniques and answering any questions you may have in the Living History area. Herron Knives
We are glad to have Herron Knives back this year with their special guest Louisiana Moonshiners on Sunday. They have a multitude of hand crafted knives in all sorts of colors and styles. These unique knives are a great gift idea that are made locally in Mooresburg TN. Check out their Facebook page for more pictures. Click here. 2018 Grainger Co Tomato Festival Court
2019 Court
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Tinsmithing Demos
David D. Drake has been tinsmithing since 2000 and is a member of Tennessee for Living History. He will be demonstrating the use of tools and techniques for making cups, kettles, pots, and other items of the 18th century. Uncle Bob's BBQ
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Lund Leather Works
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Crafts By JaniceRe Fur-BishedPico Sales
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