Marion kicks off The Hungry Mother Festival, food-eating competitions to begin Saturday

MARION, Va. (WJHL) – Competitive eaters are back in Marion this weekend for the 2024 Hungriest Mother Food Festival. It is part of the town’s “biggest summer weekend,” The Hungry Mother Festival .

The two-day festival incorporates food-eating competitions, live music, beer and more. A dozen local businesses and food trucks provided the meals.

New this year, The Traveling Bear of Bristol introduced a nine-hole mini golf course. Marion Downtown provided an eight-passenger, handicap-accessible vehicle to transport festival-goers around the event.

On Friday, guests welcomed Phantom to the Courthouse Lawn and enjoyed a Main Street block party.

Jigsaw Jane, The Ali Randolph Band, and Songs of the South, an Alabama Tribute Band, will perform on Saturday. Marion’s “Hungriest Mother Dozen Diners” food challenges will commence at 5:30. The food-eating challenges are listed below:

• The Wooden Pickle- a giant dill pickle
• Sisters Caf World- giant chocolate chip cookie
• Better Coffee Co.- homemade doughnuts
• The World Famous Dip Dog Stand- dip dogs
• Willbeez Gourmet Sandwich Shop- jalapeno pickled eggs
• Clisso’s In The Hotel- Doc Watson prime rib sandwich
• Macados World’s Hottest Wings
• Moon Dog of Marion- brick-oven fired pepperoni pizza
• Yummy Yummy Japanese Steakhouse- fried rice
• Polar Ice Food Truck- giant snow cone
• Downtown Pioneer- home-fried chicken livers
• Town of Marion Mountain Dew chuggin’ contest

“It’s a speed challenge,” said event organizer Ken Heath. “Each round features a special from a local restaurant, eatery, or food truck, and the contestant that gobbles down the portion the fastest wins!”

The Hungriest Mother Festival attracts nearly 6,000 people, and this is its 11th year.

Michael Carnes is eating for his seventh win. According to him, the competition will be an “Apollo Creed versus Rocky” type of battle.

The 51st annual Hungry Mother Arts and Crafts Festival, which kicked off on Friday and will conclude on Sunday, is happening at Hungry Mother State Park.

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