18th Annual Wayne Scott Strawberry Festival

Unicoi, Tenn. — The Town of Unicoi’s 18th Annual Wayne Scott Strawberry Festival, presented by
Scott’s Strawberries and Tomato Farms, has something to offer everyone this Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. at Unicoi Elementary School. From the festival’s newest addition, the East Tennessee Model-A
Restorers Car Show sponsored by KNK Automotive, live music, and delicious food to the Miss Strawberry
Festival Pageant, the Mountain Harvest Kitchen’s MHK Strawberry Recipe Contest, and an expanded Kids’
Zone featuring inflatables, Mary’s Cow Train, the Army National Guard’s Fit for Fun and Seed Starting with
Single Dad Homesteading, it’s clear the Strawberry Festival has returned from the pandemic stronger than
before.

“The festival has gone through some major changes this year,” Communications and Programs Director
Ashley Shelton said. “We’ve added quite a few activities, lots of new vendors and even some new musical
styles, so I think guests are definitely in for a treat after not having any festivals last season.”
The event will feature craft and retail vendors showcasing items including pottery, soaps, jewelry, home
decor and more, as well as food vendors serving hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, chicken, funnel cakes, italian
ices and other festival classics, as well as fresh Scott’s strawberries available by the basket, in strawberry
shortcake and even as jams and jellies.

The festival will also include old favorites such as the Mountain Harvest Kitchen’s MHK Strawberry
Recipe Contest which offers $75 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third place. Entries may be dropped
off at the Booth #3 from 10a.m. to 11 a.m. and winners will be announced on the main stage at 12:30 p.m.
The return of the Little Miss Strawberry Festival Pageant hosted by Little Miss Southern Sparkle offers
another opportunity for competition at this year’s event. The pageant begins at 10 a.m. in the Unicoi
Elementary Gym and winners will be announced on the stage at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact
Valerie Hendrix at director@southernsparklepageant@gmail.com or visit Little Miss Southern Sparkle on
Facebook.

Live musical performances will also be an integral part of the 18th Annual Wayne Scott Strawberry
Festival. Local bands including Unicoi County High School Bluegrass Band, Tennessee Mountain Melodies,
Zach McNabb and the Tennessee Esquires, Powershift, and Brian Kenner and Blue Steel will perform
everything from bluegrass to country and rockabilly. Visit ExploreUnicoi.com/events for performance schedule.

The Town of Unicoi thanks festival sponsors Scott’s Strawberry and Tomato Farms, Ambrosound, Bank
of Tennessee, KNK Automotive, Mountain Commerce Bank, Bank of Tennessee, East Tennessee Model-A
Restorers Club, Mountain Harvest Kitchen, Little Miss Southern Sparkle, Clinchfield Credit Union, Constellis,
LLC, Earth Effects, Family Auto Care, Farm Bureau , H&H Auto Sales, IW Trailers, Jones Hardware, Los
Jalapenos, Maple Grove Restaurant, Maple Grove Wine & Liquor, BWXT Nuclear Fuel Service, Primo’s,
Reflections Health & Wellness, Robert Ledford Funeral Home, Specialty Tire of America, State Farm Insurance
Brian Poston Agency, Steel Rails Coffee House, The Peterson Brothers / Hurd Realty, Tsubaki Nakashimi,
Unicoi Wine & Spirits, Wiseman’s Clothing, Walmart, Bays Mountain, East TN Rent-Alls, ET Golf Cart & Power
Sport, China Kitchen, Shults Law Office, Advance Auto Parts, Food City, Food Lion, Limestone Cove Market
and Deli and Lowes in Johnson City.

Special thanks to festival partners Unicoi Volunteer Fire Department, Unicoi Police Department and the
Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone interested in volunteering at the event should contact the Tourist
Information Center at (423) 735-0517 or email recreationaide@unicoitn.net. Vendor registration deadline is
May 12. Additional information is available on the town’s website, ExploreUnicoi.com.