MCEWEN, Tenn. – More than 10,000 people will travel to McEwen, TN for the annual St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic and Homecoming on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30.
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 fixin’s, funnel cakes, burgers, ice cream and more) carnival-style games, bouncy houses and live entertainment. Country, southern rock, bluegrass and Irish music are showcased beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. This year’s bands include Olivia Faye and the Don Rachford Band, the Grand Ol’ Hatchery Band, Maple Valley Boys, Harpeth Bend, Blue Soul, Curnutte and Winters Irish Band, and the Dotson Brown Band.
Barbecue chickens are sold throughout the day Friday beginning at noon. 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.
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.
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 at www.sps-tn.org. Come out to St. Patrick’s and be Irish for a day!