A big change is coming for the 46th Annual Trigg County Country Ham Festival.
This year’s main entertainment stage won’t be located in the grasslands of West Cadiz Park, but instead will be centered on the old CeeBee/IGA grocery lot. It’s the third location in three years for primary entertainment, but could become the festival’s permanent destination. City of Cadiz officials have since purchased this lot in hopes of development, and now it’s getting its first true test.
Cadiz City Clerk Barbie Johnson credited Public Works Director Craig Oakley with this idea, and noted that public works employees will be hard at work over the next few weeks leveling areas and filling in holes for safety.
Johnson said the location has a real chance to be extremely popular due to its convenient placement near the festival’s main thoroughfare.
One of the reasons this relocation can actually happen, however, is because the popular “Pork Chop Revue” won’t be coming in 2022. Johnson said the popular act is already booked for this fall, and had also upped its performance price from $5,000 to $10,000.
The committee will be deciding on bringing in a smaller version of this act, called “TroPIGal Revue,” in the next couple of weeks.
Furthermore, Johnson said that Rubiks Groove likely won’t have an opening act. The popular Nashville 80s and 90s cover band will go on at 8 PM that Saturday because of their need for darkness, but open dialogue continues with a number of acoustic sets for the Renaissance Stage, as well as potential afternoon acts on this relocated stage.
In other committee news:
— Discussions have swirled over the last few days regarding the festival’s deep and rich history. Is this the 45th Annual County Ham Festival? Or the 46th Annual? According to local historian and WKDZ’s Scott Brown, this year’s gathering should be the 45th celebration because there wasn’t one in 2020.
But branding in 2021 claimed that was the 45th year, making this one No. 46.
The committee, in turn, briefly debated about changing this year’s festival to the 45th Annual before ultimately approving to stay on course and move ahead with 46th…rather than have the second annual 45th Country Ham Festival.
Members Susan Hyde and Brenda price noted that a T-shirt was issued in 2020, saying “This Little Piggy Stayed Home,” and food trucks were available for takeout.
— “Money in the Haystack” will be making its return to the Ham Festival, and is currently planned for that Saturday morning.
— There is a possibility of an inclusive “hairstyles” contest, including mullets, beards, afros, dreads, radiant colors and more. This will be further discussed at a later meeting.
— Janelle Nichols, Renaissance On Main director, said there were only three to four booth spots remaining for vendors, but payments are either due, or past due, for more than 50 proprietors scheduled to attend.
