The 20th Homegrown Tomato Fest will take place on Saturday, August 10, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Kingsport Farmers Market. This celebration of the juicy red fruit is free and open to the public.
Activities taking place during the event include:
– Kids’ decorating tables (decorate your own tomato or use our red plate replacement).
– Live music starting at 9 a.m.
– A children’s activity by the Kingsport Public Library.
– Peak Young Professionals will make tomato sandwiches at 10 a.m. (while supplies last).
– Tomato contest for biggest, ugliest and best dressed (drop off tomatoes by 9 a.m.; winner will be announced at 11:30 a.m.
The University of Tennessee Extension Agency of Sullivan County is hosting a salsa canning class from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost of the class is $10 per person and registration is required. To register, please visit https://bit.ly/3A8cGzO.
Finally, the Homegrown Tomato Fest will feature a Salsa Showdown, where the public will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite salsa. The winner will receive a blue ribbon, some Kingsport Farmers Market swag and plenty of bragging rights.
The Salsa Showdown is open to anyone, all salsa must be homemade, and tomatoes must be used. Contestants must supply a minimum of one quart of salsa and limit three entries per household. Please label salsa Mild, Medium or Hot and provide ingredient list. Salsa will be judged on appearance, taste and texture.
Entries must be turned in by 9 a.m. to the check in table close to the kiosk and an entry form must be filled out when dropping off. Winners will be announced at 11:30 a.m.
A calendar has been created called the This is Kingsport events calendar which will serve as a non-public forum to provide citizens with information about social and organizational gatherings held within the city. The city will disseminate information to the public through this online calendar about social and organizational gatherings which are conducted or promoted by community partners with which the city currently has partnership agreements. Additionally, social or organizational gatherings held on city owned property to which the public at large is invited will be published on this calendar.
Each year the city enters into partnership agreements with multiple community partners some of whom in turn support the city by organizing events or promoting events of members and affiliates. By creating a common source for the dissemination of information about community events the city will be furthering its support of those community partners which in turn support the city. Moreover, the city wishes to and will benefit from highlighting gatherings which will be of benefit and enjoyment to the public.
Community partners may communicate their events or those which they promote to the city which will disseminate the information through the event calendar. Furthermore, the city of Kingsport will publish on the calendar those community events which are held on city property. In order to achieve the city’s goals only those events described herein will be published on the This is Kingsport event calendar which will be curated by city staff.