This team was using an over 100year old recipe and here they are getting a judge's personal vote
Team from South On Main working hard to get their win
This sculpture seems oblivious to all that is going on around it.
One of the several entry booths to the event.
Saturday November 2nd was the 2013 Arkansas Cornbread Festival and it was a great event. I had no idea what to expect since I hadn't been to any of the previous three festivals. Apparently this one had more crowds than last year. When it kicked off at 11am there were quite a few people there but as the day progressed Main street from 15th-13th was packed with people. Of course people came to eat cornbread and vote on who they felt had the best dishes, but they stayed to listen to the live music, shop the many vendor tables, and see who all was out and about. There were pro and amateur competitors going after real prize money in several different categories. You could vote on who had the best traditional or non-traditional cornbread and side dishes. And of course you could pick who you felt had the best overall cornbread.
11:00
1:00
Mark Curry and Monkhouse
Greg Spradlin and The Libras
Gerald Johnson Quartet
First of all, the weather was just about as perfect a fall day as you could have. Cool and a nice breeze but not cold and the sun was pleasantly warm. There were tons of vendors with all sorts of handmade items, one of which had a copper link bracelet that I purchased and was so stoked about finding. There was food other than cornbread too, with several food trucks set up in the parking lot across from South On Main. People brought their families and their dogs. One thing I noticed in going through the photos were the colors. I didn't photo shop these colors to make them show up the way they did. It was something about the light and the beautiful day that just made everything seem so glorious.
My friend Ian Park was set up working on art and had some onlookers
Loved talking to one of the ladies about these awesome free-trade African baskets
Downtown Neighborhood Association was one of the many non-retail vendors there.
Another thing I really enjoy about living in SoMa is that it is truly a community of people that know each other and are interested in how you are doing. But even more than that this event drew people from all over to SoMa and I enjoyed running into people that may have been down here before but don't often get to visit. And especially on such a wonderful day and on what is certainly the biggest annual event in our little neck of the woods we call SoMa.
So good to see Liz and Ryan NOT working and getting to enjoy the event!
Ran into Don and Susan
Thought these ladies were too awesome not to have their photo taken and the lady on the right went to school at Eastside Junior High, which is now loft apts and where I am sitting right now.
I want a pair of these.
Had such a nice visit meeting these folks!
l-r: Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and Graham Catlett
Ok so I hope that I was paying attention when they were calling out the winners. But just in case I got the winners from Arkansas Cornbread Festival's Facebook page. :)
Best Decoration: Capital Hotel--they weren't available for photo
Best Professional Traditional: South on Main
I hope next year that it keeps the small town festival feeling to it and not turn into something too large. Look forward to seeing you next year but until then you can always come down for any of the other events that make SoMa such a great Little Rock neighborhood. Or just come get lunch and an ice cream cone.
All photography rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography
