For 40 years, Golden has honored sweet potatoes

Posted Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:14 am

The Golden Sweet Potato Festival returns with activities scheduled Oct. 24-28 in downtown Golden.

This marks the 41st time for the festival celebrating the sweet potato harvest in the Golden area.

Events begin with the first of two pageants, Tuesday, Oct. 24, for babies to first grade. It continues Thursday, Oct. 26, for 2nd grade to seniors, both at 6 p.m. in the pavilion. The theme is Barbie and Ken.

A community-wide church service is planned Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the festival grounds with six area churches participating.

The entries in the sweet potato baking contest are due Friday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m.-noon at Harold Simmons Community Center, with prizes for youth and adults.

The fun ramps up with Mutton Bustin’ Friday, Oct. 27, beginning with registration at 5 p.m. at the Pierce Boyd Arena.

Friday is also Gospel Night, with the music starting at 7 p.m. at the pavilion.

Festival Day events get started early on Saturday, Oct. 28 with the 5K Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. at the Methodist Church. Walk ups are accepted.

The car show runs from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the festival grounds. Many of the entries will be in the parade which begins at 10 a.m. downtown (line up at 9).

Plenty of food and arts and crafts vendors will cover the grounds.

The tractor pull gets underway at 11 a.m. downtown.

The opening ceremony will be at 11 a.m. at the pavilion.

It will feature the Alba-Golden ISD band and cheerleaders, music from the students of Espinoza Music Academy, a dance group from Winnsboro, music from Swoape, Gent Mountain Grass Burs and Manifest, a performance by Dance Dimensions, presentation of car show awards (1 p.m.) and the crowning of the Sweet Potato Queen by the reigning Miss Texas.

The benefit auction follows, and the day will be capped by a concert at 6 p.m. at the pavilion featuring the Todd Brewer Band, with Elvis tribute artist Gib Maynard.

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