1948 Yam Festival in Tabor City

Published in the Whiteville News-Reporter, Oct. 11, 1948

Three-Day Program to Begin with Parade at 1:15

TABOR CITY, Oct. 11—A gaily decorated Tabor City today awaited the opening of the three-day Carolina Yam Festival on Thursday. Flags, bunting and banners lent a holiday atmosphere to the “sweet potato capital of the world.”

The greatest crowd in Tabor City’s history is expected for the festival inaugural when Governor-Nominate W. Kerr Scott will deliver an address. The future governor will be accompanied here by Lieutenant-Governor L. Y. (Stag) Ballentine who is to be the next Commissioner of Agriculture.

Festivities will get underway Thursday at 1:15 p.m. with a parade and the speaking will follow. Congressman J. Bayard Clark will be in charge and will introduce numerous dignitaries, including Nominee Scott.

The afternoon program will include a visit to the exhibit hall in the New Farmers Warehouse where booths have been set up. This is the educational feature which should not be passed up by festival visitors, according to County Agent Charles D. Raper, who supervised the arrangements.

Contest will begin at 3 p.m. under the direction of Neil F. Bolton, agricultural agent of the Tide Water Power Company, and Richard Auger, Boy Scout field executive. These will include bubble blowing, balloon blowing, yam race, three-legged race, pie eating, cracker eating, matchbox and horseshoe pitching.

The Yam Ball, featuring the music of Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, will be held at Garrell’s Warehouse. The Sweet Potato Queen will be selected at 10 p.m. and will receive her crown from House Nominee E. Ertel Carlyle of Lumberton.

Friday and Saturday programs follows:

Friday—9 a.m., exhibit hall opened to public; 2 to 6 p.m., games and contests; 4 p.m., sweet potato grading contest; 9 p.m., exhibit hall closed.

The Tabor City-Chadbourn football game may be moved up to an afternoon hour because transformers may not be installed to play the town’s first contest under the lights.

Saturday—9 a.m., exhibit hall opened to public; 1 p.m., games and contest and final sweet potato grading contest; 2 p.m., address by Frank H. Jeter of the State Extension Service with James T. Connor as master of ceremonies; 2:45, awarding of cash prizes; 3 p.m., Slim Mims and His Dream Ranch Boys; 4:30 p.m., auction of merchandise with Yam currency as medium of exchange; 9 to 12 midnight, square dance in Garrell’s Warehouse with music by Slim Mims and his musicians.