Schedule of Events

NC YAM FESTIVAL 2024

“Welcome to our 53rd Year of Celebrating Sweet Potatoes”

Festival Theme: “Here A Yam, There A Yam, Everywhere A Yam Yam”

North Carolina Yam Festival Headquarters Days and Hours of Operation

Friday, October 18, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday, October 21 - Friday, October 25, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Yam Fest Saturday, October 26, 8:00 - 5:00 p.m.

The Tabor City Public Library, located at 101 East Fifth Street, is the official
NC Yam Festival Headquarters especially during the months of September &
October. They may assist you with Information, T-shirts, Souvenirs, Tickets,
Parade & Vendor Applications, and more. Be sure to pick up a Free Yam
Festival Coloring-Activity Book for your youngsters. Free Admission

Events Held Prior to Festival Month of October

Tuesday, May 28
● Spring Planting Day
School-aged children and teens learned how to plant sweet potato slips, how to care
for the plants as their sweet potatoes grow, and how to harvest their crop. This
event was held at the Yam Festival Office located at 103-D East Fifth Street.
Monday, August 19
● Inaugural Postcard Design Contest
School-aged youth are encouraged to participate by entering in one of four age
divisions. A winner will be selected in each age division with each receiving a $50
cash prize. The winning designs will be printed on postcards. Winners will be
announced on September 18. Please call the Yam Festival Office at 910-377-3248
for the rules and guidelines. Copies will be available at the Yam Festival
Headquarters (Tabor City Public Library).
Thursday, September 5
● Information Meeting for NC Yam Festival Pageant Contestants
Tabor City Visitor Center, 301 East Fifth Street, 6:00 -7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 13
● NC Yam Festival Pageant Application Deadline
 Festival Month Events & Activities

Saturday, October 5

● North Carolina Yam Festival Scholarship Pageant

South Columbus High School, 40 Stallion Drive, Tabor City
Doors open at 3:00 p.m. Pageant begins at 4:00 p.m.
Admission Fee is $10 (includes program) / Children 5 and younger are Free.
Saturday, October 12
● Entry deadline for the Poetry Contest
Open to grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, High School
Each work must be original and work may only be submitted by a teacher. All
contest entrants must be a student in Columbus County. Any length of poem will be
accepted. For more information, please call Committee Chair, Kelly Jones at
910-642-5168 extension 24007.
Friday, October 18
● Accepting Entries for the Sweet Potato Quality Contest
Youth & Adult Entries may be dropped off at the Tabor City Public Library, 101 East
Fifth Street from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
● Yam Man Hat Decorating Contest begins. For details, please call 910-377-3248.
Monday, October 21
● Sweet Potato Quality Contest
Location is the Tabor City Public Library, 101 East Fifth Street. Youth & Adult Entries
will be accepted until 8:30 a.m. Judging begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Winners will
be announced as soon as possible via Facebook.
● Deadline to Enter Business & Residential Decorating Contest
Everyone is encouraged to decorate. The festival theme for 2023 is “I Yam What I
Yam”. To enter, please call 910-377-3248 by 4 p.m. Judging will begin at 10:00
a.m. on Tuesday, October 24.
● Poetry Contest Winners will be Announced
Via our NC Yam Festival Facebook page
Tuesday, October 22
● Sweet Potato Food Cook Off
Deadline to enter is from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
All entries need to be dropped off at The Todd House Wedding & Event Center located
at 102 Live Oak Street, Tabor City, NC 28463. Closed Judging session will take place
from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 noon. Entries will be open to public viewing from 1:00 p.m.
until 3:00 p.m.
● Yam Festival Workers’ Appreciation Breakfast
Hosted by Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (by invitation only)
● Deadline to enter the Yam Man Hat Decorating Contest
Winners will be announced on October 23rd.
 ● Paint a Yam Man Class
Instructor is LuAnn Milligan Pickell
Must reserve your space by calling the Yam Festival office at 910-377-3248. Cost is
$25 per person and will include everything you need to paint your very own Yam
Festival “Yam Man”! Location is the Todd House Wedding & Event Center, from 7:00
p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 23
● Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Registration
Student and Adult Entries will be accepted at The Todd House Wedding & Event
Center in the Banquet Hall, 102 Live Oak Street, Tabor City. Entries will be judged.
For more information regarding Student entries, please contact Kelly Jones at
910-642-5168 extension 24007. For more information regarding Adult entries,
please contact Princess Nealey Grantham at 910-641-2504.
Thursday, October 24
● Taste of Tabor at Sunnyfield Equestrian Farm
Location: 1861 Ten Mile Road, Tabor City, 6-9 p.m.
Fun-filled evening with great food, live entertainment provided by the Tim Elliott
Band, and great fellowship. A photo opportunity will be available. Tickets are only
$30 in advance/$35 at the door for ages 11 & up, $12 in advance/$15 at the door for
ages 7-10, ages 6 and under are free. Ticket Locations: Tabor City Public Library
(910-653-3774) For more details, call the NC Yam Festival office (910-377-3248).
Friday, October 25
● Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Show
The Todd House Wedding & Event Center’s Banquet Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
● Street Dance
Located at The Todd House Wedding & Event Center Stage. Live DJ, 7:00 p.m - 9:00
p.m. Bleachers will be available in this location. The Greater Tabor City Chamber of
Commerce will have concessions available for purchase.
● Yam Bowl: There will not be a Yam Bowl since there is no game on this night.

The BIG YAM DAY!

Saturday, October 26
● NC Yam Festival Headquarters & Outdoor Booth
Information, Free Yam Fest Coloring-Activity Books, T-shirts & other
Souvenirs (souvenirs prices vary)
Tabor City Public Library (parking lot) located at 101 East Fifth Street.
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Free Admission.
● Tabor City High School Alumni Reunion at the new Tabor City School
Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. for registration and for alumni to begin to gather. The
Class of 1974 will be in charge of the program which will begin at 2:00 p.m. and
conclude at 4:00 p.m. All TCHS Graduates are invited to attend. (Please
contact your graduation class officers for information on potential individual
class reunion plans.)
● A Gospel Explosion and Variety Stage
Located in the parking lot of Betty & Buddy’s Restaurant (corner of N. Main & W. Fifth
Streets). Will begin after the parade. Will feature Gospel & Christian music. Expect
a little variety in between gospel acts.
● Car, Truck, Bike & Tractor Show (Hosted by Classic Cruisers Car Club)
Located on Live Oak Street from Tabor City Baptist Church to Pireway Road.
Registration: 8:30 - 12:00 noon, Judging begins at 12:30 p.m. Trophies will be
awarded at 3:00 p.m. For information on how to enter, please call Committee Chair
Tiger Tater at 843-333-0947.
● Arts, Crafts, Food Vendors and more
Downtown on Hickman Road, East Fifth Street, Live Oak Street, and around the Todd
House Wedding & Event Center Stage from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. No admission fee
for you to enter the festival. Vendors set their own prices for their products. If you
are interested in being a Vendor, please contact us by phone or email at
910-377-3248 / [email protected].
● Yam Row
Downtown Tabor City. Exact location to be determined.
● Yam Festival Parade
Featuring more than 100 units consisting of high school bands, clowns, area pageant
titleholders, various Shriner units, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, floats,
and so much more! Begins at 10:00 a.m. originating at 7th and Main Streets, down
Main Street, left onto Green Sea Road, then right onto Hickman Road, left onto Bell
Street, then left onto Pireway Road, left onto 5th Street, and right onto Wall Street.
● Sweet Potato Give Away
Begins after the parade in the parking lot of Tabor City Public Library located at 101
East Fifth Street.
● Entertainment on the Todd House Wedding & Event Center Stage
Entertainment begins following the parade and will continue until 5:00 p.m. Expect
to enjoy lots of locals as they sing and dance their way into your hearts. Fun will be
had by all.
● Sweet Potato Pie Eating Contest
Begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Todd House Wedding & Event Center Stage.
Youth & Adult Contestant spots are limited. To register, call the NC Yam
Festival Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27.
● Beach Music Stage on Hickman - Live Concert by The Pink Slips Band!!
Location is on Hickman Road in front of United Bank. Their concert will begin
after the parade. Bleacher seating is limited so feel free to bring a lawn chair.
● KidsZone (No fees)
Located in the parking lot of Truist Bank featuring Flimsy the Clown, Carnival Games,
Inflatables, and LOTS of FUN! FREE!!
● Art/Photography/Sweet Potato Crafts Show
Adult & Youth Divisions, The Todd House Wedding & Event Center
11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
● Mt. Tabor School
Historical renovated one room schoolhouse at the corner of Stake Road and
East Fifth Street in front of Tabor City School Will be hosted by School Marm
Beth Niven Godwin from 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. Free admission.
● Historical “Self-Guided” Walking Tour
Pick up a guide at the Tabor City Visitor Center or the Tabor City Public Library.
For additional information, please contact Committee Chair Dianne Nobles Ward at
910-653-4141.
● Basic Life Support Competition (Hosted by Tabor City EMS)
Tabor City Rescue Squad located on the corner of East Fifth and Jones Streets,
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Bleacher seating is limited, so feel free to bring a lawn chair.
● Mascot Race
1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Tabor City Public Library, 101 East Fifth
Street. Mascots from area festivals, schools, businesses, etc. will race with a
sweet potato on a serving spoon. We also welcome Audience Participation so
come prepared to race if you’d like! Let’s see who makes it across the finish
line first without dropping the sweet potato. Call the Yam Festival Office at
910-377-3248 or Tabor City Public Library at 910-653-3774 to register.
● Stallion Classic (Hosted by South Columbus High School)
Located at South Columbus High School on the Stallion Football Field.
Begins at 3:00 p.m. Awards ceremony to follow.
Admission Fees: Adults $10, Students (K-12) $5, Kids (5 y/o & Under): Free

● Concert in the Courtyard

LIVE Concert by Crenshaw Trucking Band, featuring Jason Smith & Matt Dudley, at
The Todd House Wedding & Event Center located at 102 Live Oak Street, Tabor City, 5:30
- 8:30 p.m. No admission fee & No ticket necessary
The Todd House Wedding & Event Center will be selling home cooked BBQ sandwiches
with slaw, baked sweet potatoes with toppings, water, and canned drinks in the Parlor
Room beginning at 11:00 a.m.

● Forest Lawn Baptist Church Gospel Sing Hosted by “Faith And Living Water”
“Faith and Living Water” is the well known Praise Team from Forest Lawn Baptist
Church, Tabor City. Location is The Garrell Depot. Time to be determined.
 CONTACT INFORMATION
Joseph Small
NC Yam Festival President
103-D East Fifth Street
Tabor City, N. C. 28463
910-377-3248
www.ncyamfestival.com

Cynthia Nelson
NC Yam Festival Manager / Secretary
103-D East Fifth Street
Tabor City, N. C. 28463
910-377-3248 * 910-840-0292
[email protected]

The NC YAM FESTIVAL IS HELD THE 4TH SATURDAY IN OCTOBER

#NCYamFestival #YamGoodTime #DontBeATaterHater #YamFest2024

*HANDICAP PARKING*
Tabor City District Courthouse parking lot on W. Fourth Street

PORT-O-JOHN LOCATIONS
2 (includes 1 handicap unit) at Tabor City Public Library
2 (includes 1 handicap unit) in Kid Zone / Truist Bank Area
3 (includes 1 handicap unit) beside old Town Hall on 4th Street
2 Live Oak Street Area
2 (includes 1 handicap unit) near Train Depot Museum on 4th Street

HAND WASHING STATIONS

There will be 4 handwashing stations placed throughout the festival area.

Thank you to all SPONSORS for making these festival events possible!

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

TOWN OF TABOR CITY for everything they do to support the festival.

ATLANTIC PRINTING for taking care of all of our printing needs.