The 83rd Ellinger Tomato Festival is May 24-26

The 83rd Annual Ellinger Tomato Festival will be held in Ellinger, Texas, the last weekend in May, Friday, May 24, Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, 2019. All of the activities will take place at the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Center, 104 W. Colorado Sky Street, Ellinger.

A chef’s competition starts the activities off on Friday, May 24, 2019. The barbeque competition begins early Saturday morning, May 25. The winners will be announced on Saturday afternoon after the judging. Paula Urban is the chairperson for this event. Paula can be contacted at ellingerbbq@gmail.com.

Gun and other raffles will also be held on Saturday and Sunday.

A Dollar Dance (admission only $1.00) will be held from 8 to 12 Saturday in the air conditioned hall with music by The Black Cat Choir. During intermission, a live auction will be held.

A parade will start at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 26. The Parade Marshal is Fayette County Judge Joe Weber. The Ellinger Senior Citizen of the Year is Michael Hess.

Registration for the parade starts at 7:30 a.m.on the corner of Munn and Jarmon Streets. The parade route travels on Grover Street and goes by the Chamber Hall where awards will be given out, turns right on Main Street, then turns right on FM 2503, and continues past the hall and turns left on Jarmon Street where it will disband. Registration forms can be found on the web site, ellingertexas.com.

Immediately after the parade, there will be a special ceremony inside the air conditioned hall honoring the veterans and military. The Round Top Brass Band will be providing the music.

Do you grow tomatoes? There will be a tomato growing contest on Sunday morning, May 26 inside the hall. Bring your entries to the hall before 11 a.m. on Sunday. Cash prizes will be awarded to First Place $100, Second place $50, and Third place $25 in three different categories: Largest Tomato, Best Cluster, and Best Ready to Eat. The winners will be announced before the live auction at 1 p.m.

A large live auction will be held beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday with a “Pick of the Litter” and a $500 “Buyers Bonus.”

A delicious Chamber fried chicken and sausage meal will be served beginning at 11 a.m., dine-in or drive thru for $10 per plate. Children’s plates (12 yrs. and under) are $5.00 (dine in only). A bake sale will begin at 9 a.m., and a variety/plant wheel with lots of delicious goodies will be held. There will also be lots of activities for the kiddos.

Tomato Festival T-shirts, caps, and koozies will be available for purchase.

Miss Charity and Mr. Mike will be providing face painting and balloon art beginning at 11 a.m. under the pavilion.