JACKSONVILLE, Texas — **EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from June 2021.
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will host the 38th annual Tomato Fest on Saturday, June 11.
From June 6-12, Jacksonville becomes "Tomatoville" with the official proclamation set for June 6 at 2 p.m. at City Hall.
Tomato Fest will take place from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., on Commerce St. in Downtown Jacksonville.
Festival-goers will enjoy five blocks of food and fun, including:
- Vendors
- Farmer's market
- Fried green tomatoes
- Tomato eating contests
- Tomato peeling contest
- Tomato packing contest
- Salsa contest
- Best homegrown contest
- Live entertainment
- Talent show
- Car show
- Motorcycle show
- Soccer tournament
- Tennis tournament
- History display
- Top tomato poster contest
From 7-11 p.m., dance the night away during the 16th annual Street Dance at Chili's Bar & Grill with entertainment provided by Jenn Ford and the Red Dirt Ritas.
"The most popular event of Tomato Fest is the fresh tomatoes," the Chamber of Commerce says. "People will drive hours just to get Jacksonville tomatoes. The Tomato Eating Contest is a highlight, as we have our local celebrities fight to be the champion tomato eater."
The full schedule of events can be found below:
Saturday, June 4
- Pete Lammons Fishing Tournament at Lake Jacksonville, 6 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sunday, June 5
- Mr. & Miss Tomato Fest Pageant at Jacksonville High School Auditorium, 12 p.m.
- City-Wide Church Singing at First United Methodist Church, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
- City of Jacksonville Proclamation – Tomatoville at City Hall, 2 p.m.
- Family First Dodgeball Challenge at John Alexander Gym - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 8
- Tomato Fest Diced at Keipersol - 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 9
- Farm to Table featuring Remy Reilly - 7 p.m.
Friday, June 10
- Rotary Club Par 3 Night Tournament at Cherokee Ranch Golf Club, 4 p.m.
- Pre-Party at Commerce Drafthouse, 6 p.m.
- Vendors set up for the BIG day, 7-9 p.m.
Saturday, June 11
- Main stage welcome and opening, 8 a.m.
- Awards times and it will be on the main stage under overpass.. photo opportunities.
- 10:30 a.m.– Award for the Youth Talent Contest
- 11 a.m. – Celebrity Tomato Eating Contest – eating as many tomatoes in 3 minutes
- 12 p.m. – Awards Best Home-Grown Contest
- 12:15 p.m. - Awards Salsa Contest
- 12:30 p.m. - Tomato Peeling Contest – peeling tomato with their teeth
- 1:15 p.m. – Youth Tomato Eating Contest
- 1:30 p.m. - Tomato Packing Contest
- 2:30 p.m. – Got Talent Contest
- 7-11 p.m. – Chili’s Street Dance featuring Red Dirt Ritas and Jenn Ford
- 7:30 p.m. – Chili’s Awards for best Bloody Mary Contest
- 9 p.m. – Drawing for Citizen’s Police Academy pistols (stage at Chili’s)