The Woodleaf Tomato Festival takes place this Saturday on the church grounds of Unity Presbyterian Church, 885 Woodleaf Barber Road.
The kick-off is the Tomato Trot, a 5K run that begins at 8 a.m. Registration starts at 7:15. The fee is $20 for pre-registration and $25 on day of race. You can register at www.active.com, go to Rowan Runners website, or call Mallory Hodge at 704-278-1852.
There will also be a Fun Run ($10) and Walk ($15).
Other events throughout the day are: attic sale beginning at 9 a.m. sharp (no early shoppers, please, due to Tomato Trot); silent auction, parade at 10 a.m. featuring antique tractors and other entries, live music and events on stage all day.
There are also pageants. Pre-registration is required for each of the following: Little Tommy Toe (open to all young men ages 2-5), Little Miss Mater (open to all young ladies ages 2-5), Little Mater Sprout (open to all boys and girls under age 2), and Miss Tomato Festival, with the ugliest women contestants you’ve ever seen (you must be a man and come dressed as a woman to participate in this.)
Thos wishing to participate in the Tomato Cook-off need to bring their favorite tomato dish prepared and turned in to the church kitchen by 10 a.m.
Fresh produce and crafts will be available for sale, there’s a kids’ inflatable play area, a pedal tractor pull featuring Harry Fink’s tractors (sign up that day to compete) dunking booth, bake sale, Tomato Festival t-shirts, pre-school raffle for cash, and cook books.
Food will include hamburgers and hotdogs prepared by College BBQ, and, good ole ‘mater sandwiches.
The day will wrap up with a tractor pull at Woodleaf Methodist Church.
The public is invited to bring a chair and plan to stay the day.