MCEWEN, Tenn. – More than 10,000 people will travel to McEwen, TN for the 164th Annual St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic and Homecoming on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28.
The event has grown from local farmers donating pigs and sheep for a single fundraising meal in 1854 to a two-day event which includes barbecuing 20,000 pounds of pork and over 2,000 chickens. The secret sauce recipe has been used on the barbecue since the Irish Picnic began and is sold throughout the event.

The picnic boasts amazing food (think barbecue and all the fixins, funnel cakes, burgers, ice cream and more) carnival-style games, bouncy houses and live entertainment.
Barbecue chickens are sold Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A limited amount of St. Patrick’s famous barbecue pork sandwiches will be available in the evening hours. The barbecue pork is available for sale by the pound and whole shoulder starting at 7 a.m. Saturday. Dinner stands open at 10 a.m. They have a no open alcoholic beverage policy.
More than 50 game booths open at 10 a.m. with something for all ages. Festivities conclude at 11 p.m. both days.
Admission and parking are free. The picnic grounds are located at 174 St. Patrick Street, McEwen, TN 37101.
Schedule of Events
Friday, July 27th
Opening Ceremonies 5:30 pm
J Mays & Z Bro (oldies/rock & roll/ classic rock/hip-hop/reggae 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Crystal Blue IV (60/70’s Blues and Oldies) 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday, July 29th
Maple Valley Boys (Bluegrass) 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
A Step in Time Dance Studio (Clogging and Square Dancing) 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Colm Kirwan and Band (Celtic Country) 2:00 pm – 4:00pm
129th Bluegrass Army Band (Bluegrass) 5:00pm – 6:00 pm
Dotson Brown Band (Country) 7:00pm – 11:00pm
For more information about St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic, contact the St. Patrick’s office at (931) 582-3493, find us on Facebook at St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic or visit the website. Come out to St. Patrick’s and be Irish for a day!
