MCEDP

One of the highlights of summer in Moore County is the annual Farmer’s Day Festival held every August in downtown Robbins.  2018 marks the festival’s 63^rd year (1955-2018).

The Southeast Tourism Society recently named the Farmer’s Day festival one of its Top 20 Events in the southeastern U.S. for August 2018.  The Southeast region includes West Virginia to Louisiana. The best events across the Southeast compete to receive the prestigious Top 20 Events designation. Through a nomination process, Southeast Tourism Society chooses the Top 20 events for each month of the year and publishes this list of winners quarterly. “These events are important to the economic vitality of our communities and this is a way for us to acknowledge the time and resources organizers have tirelessly spent to create memories for their attendees,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society.

This year’s three-day Farmer’s Day starts at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 2 and lasts until midnight on Saturday, August 4.  The event typically draws more than 30,000 festival-goers to Robbins, a significant influx for a town with a population of about 1,500.

Founded in 1955 as an agriculture-themed parade, the event has grown to a weekend-long celebration featuring live entertainment, food & craft vendors and other attractions. There will be a 5K run/walk, a Fire Fighter Challenge, a Lumberjack competition, and an antique tractor & farm equipment show.  The festival includes a lineup of 14 bluegrass, gospel and classic rock acts from across North Carolina.  Carnival rides will be available for the kids.

But the true centerpiece of the festival is the unique parade on Saturday, August 4^th at 11:00 a.m.  Don’t expect to see any floats or pageant queens though.  Instead, this parade is full of horses, mules, donkeys, and maybe even a fowl or two.  The parade has grown significantly from the sixty-five participants in the 1958 festival.  Jarius Garner, chairman of the Farmers Day committee, said an average of 400 horse-drawn carriages and other entries participate each year.

Farmer’s Day is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to celebrate local agriculture and this area’s rich history.  It will be a great day for the entire family!  For more information, visit www.robbinsfarmersday.com.