National Cornbread Festival

South Pittsburg is the home of Lodge Cast Iron, and on the last full weekend of April the town holds a festival for the thing people bake in those skillets.

The cook-off and Cornbread Alley

The National Lodge Cast Iron Cornbread Cook-Off is the center of the weekend. Cooks from around the country compete on stage for the champion’s title, all of them cooking in Lodge cast iron. Entries run from sweet to savory.

In Cornbread Alley you taste a line of different cornbread recipes. Other food vendors sell barbecue, funnel cakes and more.

Admission and Cornbread Alley ticket prices change year to year. Check nationalcornbread.com before you go.

Music, crafts and the carnival

Bands play through the weekend, from bluegrass to rock. The arts and crafts market sells handmade jewelry, wood carvings and fine art.

For kids there is a carnival with rides and a Kid’s Corner with games, crafts and free cornbread.

Lodge foundry tours

The festival includes tours of the Lodge Cast Iron foundry. The working foundry is closed to the public the rest of the year, so this weekend is the chance to see inside. The Lodge Museum of Cast Iron and factory store are open year-round.

Planning the weekend

• Book a room months ahead. This is the one weekend when lodging across Marion County sells out.
• Big Bad Breakfast serves Southern breakfast at the Lodge store address, 220 E 3rd St.
• The festival’s own site, nationalcornbread.com, has the schedule and this year’s dates.

More to do while you are here

• Hike to Foster Falls or walk a section of the Fiery Gizzard Trail.
• Get on the water at Nickajack Lake in the Tennessee River Gorge.
• Stay in a floating cabin at Hales Bar Marina.
• Adventure Off Road Park has off-road trails.