Welcome to our 53rd Year of Celebrating Sweet Potatoes

Festival Theme: “Here A Yam, There A Yam, Everywhere A Yam Yam”

Schedule Of Events:

Saturday, October 5, 2024

North Carolina Yam Festival Scholarship Pageant
Doors open at 3:00 p.m. Pageant begins at 4:00 p.m.
Admission Fee is $10 (includes program) / Children 5 and younger are Free.

Location:South Columbus High School, 40 Stallion Drive, Tabor City

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Entry deadline for the Poetry Contest
Each work must be original and work may only be submitted by a teacher. All contest entrants must be a student in Columbus County. Any length of poem will be accepted. For more information, please call Committee Chair, Kelly Jones at
910-642-5168 extension 24007.
Location: Open to grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, High School

Friday, October 18, 2024

Accepting Entries for the Sweet Potato Quality Contest
Youth and Adult Entries may be dropped off at the Tabor City Public Library, 101 East Fifth Street from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Yam Man Hat Decorating Contest begins. For details, please call 910-377-3248.

Monday, October 21, 2024

Sweet Potato Quality Contest
Location is the Tabor City Public Library, 101 East Fifth Street. Youth and Adult Entries will be accepted until 8:30 a.m. Judging begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Winners will be announced as soon as possible via Facebook.

Deadline to Enter Business and Residential Decorating Contest
Everyone is encouraged to decorate. The festival theme for 2023 is “I Yam What I Yam”. To enter, please call 910-377-3248 by 4 p.m. Judging will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24.

Poetry Contest Winners will be Announced

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Sweet Potato Food Cook Off
Deadline to enter is from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
All entries need to be dropped off at The Todd House Wedding and Event Center located at 102 Live Oak Street, Tabor City, NC 28463. Closed Judging session will take place from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 noon. Entries will be open to public viewing from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Yam Festival Workers’ Appreciation Breakfast
Hosted by Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (by invitation only)

Deadline to enter the Yam Man Hat Decorating Contest
Winners will be announced on October 23rd.

Paint a Yam Man Class
Instructor is LuAnn Milligan Pickell Must reserve your space by calling the Yam Festival office at 910-377-3248. Cost is $25 per person and will include everything you need to paint your very own Yam Festival “Yam Man”! Location is the Todd House Wedding and Event Center, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Registration
Student and Adult Entries will be accepted at The Todd House Wedding and Event Center in the Banquet Hall, 102 Live Oak Street, Tabor City. Entries will be judged.
For more information regarding Student entries, please contact Kelly Jones at 910-642-5168 extension 24007. For more information regarding Adult entries, please contact Princess Nealey Grantham at 910-641-2504.

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Taste of Tabor at Sunnyfield Equestrian Farm

Fun-filled evening with great food, live entertainment provided by the Tim Elliott Band, and great fellowship. A photo opportunity will be available. Tickets are only $30 in advance/$35 at the door for ages 11 and up, $12 in advance/$15 at the door for ages 7-10, ages 6 and under are free. Ticket Locations: Tabor City Public Library (910-653-3774) For more details, call the NC Yam Festival office (910-377-3248).

Location: 1861 Ten Mile Road, Tabor City, 6-9 p.m.

Friday, October 25, 2024

Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Show
The Todd House Wedding and Event Center’s Banquet Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Street Dance
Located at The Todd House Wedding and Event Center Stage. Live DJ, 7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m. Bleachers will be available in this location. The Greater Tabor City Chamber of Commerce will have concessions available for purchase.

Yam Bowl: There will not be a Yam Bowl since there is no game on this night.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m - NC Yam Festival Headquarters and Outdoor Booth
Information, Free Yam Fest Coloring-Activity Books, T-shirts and other Souvenirs (souvenirs prices vary)
Tabor City Public Library (parking lot) located at 101 East Fifth Street. Free Admission.

Tabor City High School Alumni Reunion at the new Tabor City School
Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. for registration and for alumni to begin to gather. The Class of 1974 will be in charge of the program which will begin at 2:00 p.m. and conclude at 4:00 p.m. All TCHS Graduates are invited to attend. (Please contact your graduation class officers for information on potential individual class reunion plans.)

A Gospel Explosion and Variety Stage
Will begin after the parade. Will feature Gospel and Christian music. Expect a little variety in between gospel acts.
Located in the parking lot of Betty and Buddy’s Restaurant (corner of N. Main and W. Fifth
Streets).

Car, Truck, Bike and Tractor Show (Hosted by Classic Cruisers Car Club)
Registration: 8:30 - 12:00 noon, Judging begins at 12:30 p.m. Trophies will be awarded at 3:00 p.m. For information on how to enter, please call Committee Chair
Tiger Tater at 843-333-0947.
Located on Live Oak Street from Tabor City Baptist Church to Pireway Road.

Arts, Crafts, Food Vendors and more
Downtown on Hickman Road, East Fifth Street, Live Oak Street, and around the Todd House Wedding and Event Center Stage from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. No admission fee for you to enter the festival. Vendors set their own prices for their products. If you
are interested in being a Vendor, please contact us by phone or email at
910-377-3248 / [email protected].

Yam Row - Downtown Tabor City.

Yam Festival Parade
Featuring more than 100 units consisting of high school bands, clowns, area pageant titleholders, various Shriner units, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, floats, and so much more! Begins at 10:00 a.m. originating at 7th and Main Streets, down Main Street, left onto Green Sea Road, then right onto Hickman Road, left onto Bell Street, then left onto Pireway Road, left onto 5th Street, and right onto Wall Street.

Sweet Potato Give Away
Begins after the parade in the parking lot of Tabor City Public Library located at 101 East Fifth Street.

Entertainment on the Todd House Wedding and Event Center Stage
Entertainment begins following the parade and will continue until 5:00 p.m. Expect to enjoy lots of locals as they sing and dance their way into your hearts. Fun will be had by all.

Sweet Potato Pie Eating Contest
Begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Todd House Wedding and Event Center Stage. Youth and Adult Contestant spots are limited. To register, call the NC Yam Festival Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27.

Beach Music Stage on Hickman - Live Concert by The Pink Slips Band!!
Location is on Hickman Road in front of United Bank. Their concert will begin after the parade. Bleacher seating is limited so feel free to bring a lawn chair.

KidsZone (No fees)
Located in the parking lot of Truist Bank featuring Flimsy the Clown, Carnival Games, Inflatables, and LOTS of FUN! FREE!!

Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Show
Adult and Youth Divisions, The Todd House Wedding and Event Center 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Mt. Tabor School
Historical renovated one room schoolhouse at the corner of Stake Road and East Fifth Street in front of Tabor City School Will be hosted by School Marm
Beth Niven Godwin from 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. Free admission.

Historical “Self-Guided” Walking Tour
Pick up a guide at the Tabor City Visitor Center or the Tabor City Public Library. For additional information, please contact Committee Chair Dianne Nobles Ward at
910-653-4141.

Basic Life Support Competition (Hosted by Tabor City EMS)
Tabor City Rescue Squad located on the corner of East Fifth and Jones Streets, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Bleacher seating is limited, so feel free to bring a lawn chair.

Mascot Race
1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Tabor City Public Library, 101 East Fifth Street. Mascots from area festivals, schools, businesses, etc. will race with a sweet potato on a serving spoon. We also welcome Audience Participation so come prepared to race if you’d like! Let’s see who makes it across the finish line first without dropping the sweet potato. Call the Yam Festival Office at 910-377-3248 or Tabor City Public Library at 910-653-3774 to register.

Stallion Classic (Hosted by South Columbus High School)
Located at South Columbus High School on the Stallion Football Field. Begins at 3:00 p.m. Awards ceremony to follow. Admission Fees: Adults $10, Students (K-12) $5, Kids (5 y/o and Under): Free

Concert in the Courtyard
LIVE Concert by Crenshaw Trucking Band, featuring Jason Smith and Matt Dudley, at The Todd House Wedding and Event Center located at 102 Live Oak Street, Tabor City, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. No admission fee and No ticket necessary The Todd House Wedding and Event Center will be selling home cooked BBQ sandwiches with slaw, baked sweet potatoes with toppings, water, and canned drinks in the Parlor Room beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Forest Lawn Baptist Church Gospel Sing Hosted by “Faith And Living Water”
“Faith and Living Water” is the well known Praise Team from Forest Lawn Baptist Church, Tabor City. Location is The Garrell Depot

Date: October 5-26, 2024

Time:
Monday, October 21 – Friday, October 25 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Yam Fest: Saturday, October 26, 8:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Various Venues in Tabor City, NC 28463

Click Here For More Information