Their claim to fame in Centerville is that it is the home of Minnie Pearl. There is this HUGE hat against one wall in the ag center. I Made Travis stand there for scale. He was thrilled.
There really wasn't much to do at the festival sadly. We made a quick round of the craft booths and jumpy houses then got in line for the puddin' path! Look at how long that line is! The front is through those banana trees.
The festival is a fund raiser for local charities. You pay three bucks, then you get all these different kinds of banana pudding. Then you vote on your favorite.
Awwwww yeah. There was one with banana moonpies instead of nilla wafers that was amazing. And a caramel one. And one with peanut butter. They were all amazing, except for the sugar free gluten free one. Blech, banana pudding isn't about being healthy!
This cut out made me laugh. look at it's weird butt! I kept waiting for that girl to move but she never did. Now she is immortalized here forever.
Can you believe no one was selling banana pudding?? We had wanted to buy some to take to a party that night. So weird. We filled out surveys on the way out and I suggested a bake sale next year. But they did have lots of fair type food. It took me a while to decide...
We watched the music for a little while before we left. The best part was this announcer. Imagine this, in a totally monotone voice, all with the same intonation: "Lets give a hand to the band. And Minnie Pearl. Do you have anemia? Bananas can help with that. One of our sponsors was our local radio station. I've seen a lot of warts around here today. You can get rid of warts by pressing banana skin to them. Next up we have band angelica. Do you have heart burn?" Travis and I couldn't stop laughing!
this sounds so amazing. i'm so jealous of all of the amazing things that go on in tennessee. all we get is zombicon and the coconut festival which are amazing, don't get me wrong, but one is in october and the other is in november. nothing else all year!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a good time, all in all. Especially with what that announcer was saying! Apparently, bananas are good for a lot. I use that exact same banana pudding recipe -though without condensed milk. And I use a lot less bananas too. They're going a little banana crazy!
ReplyDeletei wish you had heard that announcer! the whole time i was thinking that you would have LOVED it.
Deletedo you just cut out the condensed milk all together? do you substitute something else?
I kid you not...I laid in bed lastnight thinking about how I could make the ultimate Banana Pudding! We went to a nice restaurant the other day and had some for dessert, but it was just so-so. So I'd been thinking about improving it! Now I'm forsure going to make some tonight!
ReplyDeleteI love all the adventures that you and Travis go on! You find the neatest things to do. Someday you'll be able to giggle about the funny "Banana Pudding Festival" that you went to! Haaa!
i had never made it before, because i'm scared once i start, i'll be eating a whole container by myself!
DeleteI enjoy banana pudding but never saw it much til we went to Memphis many years ago.
ReplyDeletei didn't realize it was such a southern thing. when i was growing up we had it at least once at month at church during "eatin' sunday." and some restaurants down here have it as a side!
DeleteLooks like you officially found the strangest festival of the Mid-TN region. Never heard of this, and kind of bummed there wasn't that much to do. Also, there should have been tons of people selling BP if they knew what was good for them!
ReplyDeleteright? i really want to go to the rc cola and moonpie festival sometime! i know there is a big craft fair at that one.
DeleteWhat a fantastic festival! Chucky was snooping through my Instagram & saw the photo of the flyer you had posted & then proceeded to whine & holler about why we don't live somewhere closer so that he could be there. That man lives for banana pudding! He still mentions it every few days, I won't be sharing this post with him or I'll never hear the end of it. I think I'll have to modify my usual recipe & try that Moonpie trick, sounds heavenly.
ReplyDeletemake the moonpie banana pudding for him! he will probably FAINT! the marshmallow bits just take it over the top.
DeleteThat announcer sounds phenomenal. I wonder if we can hire him for our local radio station instead of the lady they have now, she's overly fake chipper with an obscenely high pitched voice. It's like nails on a chalkboard.
ReplyDeletei got the feeling that he did work for the local station in some capacity. he mentioned the station multiple times and talked about great it was. then asked if we were anemic. haha.
DeleteI have never even heard of Banana puddin'. It looks so yummy. What a rad day you dudes had.
ReplyDeleteyou need to make it! it is AMAZING> for real, it is probably my favorite dessert.
DeleteHi, Rae :) I silently read your blog every day and I am finally commenting with some worthy input. Just wanted to tell you that you waiting forever for that girl to move had me crackin up. I have been in the same picture taking scenario plenty of times, awkward! Well, she should feel honored to be "forever immortalized" on your blog. I sure would ;)
ReplyDeletehaha, sometimes i am like "Travis MOVE i'm trying to take a PICTURE!" like everyone in the world should just move and get out of my way.
DeleteI've just really noticed banana pudding since I came into the world of blogging and Pinterest - I never knew about this southern delight, I had never heard of it before up here in Canada - I really want to try it!
ReplyDeleteI love going to festivals. They are always so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that the recipe came out well. I love how you took a picture of the pudding with the pumpkin in the background.
OK for all you interested in this festival. For 2013 it is on October 5th and 6th at a new location in Centerville, the Centerville River Park. 146 N. Central Ave. Centerville for your GPS. And yes, more banana pudding, more things to do, and Clay Harris, the very entertaining MC will be gracing us with his dry wit and fabulous humor! Just $5 at the gate and still $3 at the Puddin' Path. www.bananapuddingfest.org
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