COOLEEMEE – Ricky Glass rounded up his friends for a fish fry to raise funds to buy land at the Bullhole and build a park. It is now a local fall tradition.
This Saturday, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m, at least 360 pounds of catfish will be cooked and consumed by nearly 500 people. Plates are $8 and include fries, hush puppies, slaw, dessert and drinks.
“When Ricky passed away, his good friends decided that the catfish fry was a great way to remember him,” says Ron Bivins. “Now, RiverPark has been open for ten years.This will be our tenth fish fry and these guys have continued to pitch in to maintain this legacy. We’ve probably cooked over 3,000 pounds of fish. No telling how many pounds of puppies and fries.”
Most say it’s the best catfish they ever ate, says RiverPark President Daphne Beck. “We are usually blessed with great fall weather, volunteers to help serve and lots of hungry patrons.”
The annual catfish fry and the July Duck Race raise funds to hire workers who keep the park clean and safe. Donations are always needed and welcome.
Tickets are on sale in Cooleemee at Village Auto and the Zachary House, in Mocksville at the Chamber of Commerce and in Salisbury at the LandTrust at the Salisbury train station until the end of the workday on Friday.