Pepper Jelly festival steadily approaching
Published 5:03 pm Thursday, April 4, 2013
The Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation announces that the 27th Pepper Jelly Festival will take place Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. The festival will take place on the campus of the old Marengo County High School (MCHS)located at 133 Sixth Avenue in Thomaston.
The majority of the activities will occur at the Alabama Rural Heritage Center, formerly MCHS’ Home Economics and Vocational Agricultural Building, but will include activities throughout the MCHS Campus.
Headlining the 2013 Pepper Jelly Festival will be the world famous Blues singer, Debbie Bond. She and her band have performed throughout the Deep South and much of Europe – expanding the awareness of, and increasing the appreciation for the Blues genre. Having released two albums, What Goes Around Comes Around, and Hearts are Wild, Debbie Bond supports the music of Alabama Blues and has been featured in many Alabama music promotions, including The Oxford American, Southern Living magazine, and a PBS documentary on Alabama music. To learn more about Debbie Bond, visit her website: http://www.debbiebond.com/.
With the April 27th Pepper Jelly Festival in Thomaston, AL, fast approaching, the cooks from Mama Nem’s kitchen have been working hard to ensure there is enough green and red pepper jelly on-hand for the upcoming festival. Shown are: Margaret Parker, Peggy Pritchett, David Pritchett, VISTA Volunteer, Lillie Parsons, Marilyn Daniels, (cooking, but not shown) Carolyn Finley and Clarice Etheredge, all of Thomaston.
Additionally, those attending the Pepper Jelly Festival will enjoy listening to local entertainers, Ronnie Richardson and his unique renditions of Elvis Presley hits, and Gene Etheridge and Friends, with their always-popular classic Country.
Formerly known as “Rural Fun Day”, typically a late-summer occasion, the event was moved to a more pleasant, spring-time event, and has been renamed the “Pepper Jelly Festival” to honor the locally produced “Mama Nem’s Pepper Jelly” – a time-tested recipe of local flavors, hand-made by the Center’s volunteers, into the delectable product produced at the Rural Heritage Center.
The Pepper Jelly Festival provides a wonderful opportunity for the Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation to continue meeting its mission to honor Alabama Artisans and handmade crafters. Visitors to the Pepper Jelly Festival get to experience lost-art demonstrations from local and regional crafters, all the while enjoying good food, including the original “Thomaston Bar-B-Que”, listening to great music, and gaining a better appreciation for the rich, black belt culture of West-Central Alabama
Recognized locally by the “Eat Pepper Jelly” motto, Mama Nem’s Pepper Jelly’s popularity has grown to become a regional and national delicacy. Sold through the Center’s Gift Shop, the green and red pepper jelly is available in 4 ounce and 8 ounce jars. The success and popularity of the home-made jelly had grown to include sales throughout Alabama. Additional information about the Pepper Jelly and our Pepper Jelly Festival is available through the Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation’s website: http://www.ruralheritagecenter.com.
For more information about the 6th Annual Pepper Jelly Festival, contact the Alabama Rural Heritage Center, by phone, (334) 627-3388, or e-mail ruralher@frontiernet.net.
