The free festival features contests for tomato art and tomato recipes, as well as competitions for biggest, ugliest and best-tasting tomato. Participants can also don their best tomato-themed outfits to compete in the ever-popular Tomato Pageant, and belly up to become the tomato-eating champion.

Enjoy great food (including fried green tomatoes, BLTs, pizzas, tomato sandwiches and tomato biscuits), live music, games, music, arts and crafts, and much more!

Schedule:

7:15 am - ’Mater Madness - a high-energy, boot camp-style workout with running, relays, obstacle courses, strength drills and more. And it’s free! Download the ’Mater Madness entry form to register. Preregistration is required.

9:45 am - Registration for all events begins

10 am - Official opening of the Eastmont Tomato Festival

10:30 am - Tomato Pageant

10:45 am - Closing of entries for contests

11:15 am - Magician Mark Fuller

Noon - Appreciations and announcements: Announcing winners for tomato growing, cooking and artwork contests12:15 pm — Tomato Olympics start:

MATER TOSS: The tomato target returns! Children will throw tomatoes at a person with the bulls-eye on his chest. A direct hit on the target is 5 points; an indirect hit is 3 points and hits on arms and legs are 1 point each. A hit on the face is a negative 3 points.

TOMATO WORM SQUIRM: Each competitor - while carrying tomatoes - will squirm through a 20-foot-long tunnel with their legs bound together.

TOMATO OBSTACLE COURSE: This is a traditional obstacle course, with a tomato theme! Children will crawl under and over obstacles, walk a balance beam, and go thru a maze, all while carrying - and not dropping - tomatoes. The event starts at 12:15 p.m. and ends around 1:30 p.m.

Register

1:15 pm - Tomato-eating contest

During the Tomato Eating Contest, each competitor eats a bowl of tomatoes and drinks a glass of tomato juice as fast as possible. Children who finish first, second or third receive medals. If you’ve never seen this event before, it is an absolute riot.

This event has categories for children and adults. There is a limit of 10 participants, so sign up early. Registration begins at 9:45 a.m. and ends at 12:15 p.m. The contest is at 1:15 p.m., with winners announced immediately afterward.

2pm - Festival ends

Other Contests:
There are a variety of other activities in which to participate at the Eastmont Tomato Festival.

Tomato Talent Pageant

Cherry Tomato Baby: Ages 0–3
Salad Tomato Category: Ages 4–22
Roma Tomato Category: Ages 23–39
Heirloom Tomato Category: Ages 40-plus

Register

Tomato food dish

Best Tomato Condiments: Salsa, ketchups, relishes, etc.
Best Tomato Beverages: Juices, blends, wines, beers, etc.
Best Tomato Entrees: Tomato pizza, pasta, gazpacho, etc.
Tomato Other: munchies, salads, desserts, etc.

Register

Tomato Grower

Funniest Tomato
Biggest Tomato
Smallest Tomato
Best Tasting Tomato

Register

Date: August 19, 2023

Time: 10:00am -2:00pm

Location: Meadowbrook Community Center courtyard, 267 Alleghany Spring Road, Shawsville, VA 24162.

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