Thousands celebrated Appalachian heritage at the 47th annual Poke Sallet Festival in Whitleyville last week. The multi-day event, recognized as "Tennessee's Original Poke Sallet Festival," took place at the Jackson County Fairgrounds from Thursday, May 8, to Saturday, May 10, celebrating local history, culture, and the unique poke sallet plant.
The festival opened to the public at 3 p.m. on Thursday. The Miss Poke Sallet Pageant, a cherished local tradition, was held at Jackson County Middle School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday featured dedicated hours from 10 a.m. to noon for attendees with special needs and senior citizens, with quieter operations. The festival then opened to the general public from noon to 10 p.m. Carnival rides were also available for children.
Saturday's activities ran from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A central attraction was the Poke Sallet Festival Car Show, sponsored by Hyundai of Cookeville. Car enthusiasts checked in from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The car show awards ceremony was held at 2 p.m. Concurrent with the car show, the Poke Sallet Iris Show accepted entries from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Judging began at 11 a.m. Also held on Saturday was the Poke Sallet Eating Contest, a unique culinary competition. Carnival rides continued to be available for children throughout the day.
The Poke Sallet Festival celebrates the Appalachian heritage of Jackson County, with the poke sallet plant (Phytolacca americana) as a central symbol. Poke sallet, the cooked young leaves of the pokeweed plant, is a traditional spring green in Southern foodways, requiring careful preparation due to its toxicity. Since 2022, the Poke Sallet Foundation has organized the festival, aiming to preserve and celebrate local culture and history and fund its "Blue Collar Scholars" program. The festival began in May 1977, organized by the local Jaycees chapter. An outhouse race was also held.
Thousands of attendees are drawn to the annual festival. Local organizations, such as the Jackson County Democrats, participated. Volunteers contributed to the festival's success, and local artisans and vendors showcased their goods.
The 47th annual Poke Sallet Festival celebrated the Appalachian heritage and community spirit of Jackson County through a variety of activities, including the Miss Poke Sallet Pageant, musical performances, carnival rides for children, and the car and iris shows, as well as the Poke Sallet Eating Contest. The festival's continued importance to Jackson County is evident in the strong community involvement.
