FREDERICKTOWN — The theme of last year’s tomato show in Fredericktown was supposed to be, “The Places You’ll Go.” After a year of limited travel and stay-at-home orders, the tomato show is reviving its unused theme.
The 44th Fredericktown Tomato Show will take place Sept. 8 to 11, and the president of the show, Chris Well, thinks the theme is even more appropriate now.
“People are anxious to get out and about,” Well said, referring to the resuming of pre-COVID-19 pandemic activities.
The show will feature the usual traditions — tomato products, the Little Miss Tomato Contest, corn hole, live entertainment — but with some changes.
The annual Little Miss Tomato Contest for young girls who are 6 years old by Sept. 1, 2021, is set for Sept. 8.
The girls who did not get to participate in the contest last year will have an opportunity to do so this year in a separate contest on September 9, Well said. Participants must be 7 years old as of Sept. 1, 2021, to qualify.
The deadline to register for both Little Miss Tomato contests is Aug. 22, 2021.
There will be no Lip Sync Contest this year, but attendees can expect to still see some competition-free lip sync performances following the Little Miss Tomato Contest Sept. 9, Well said.
Local elementary school staff will return to the stage in September.
“I asked the teachers … and they had already started planning,” Well said, noting that their performance is a favorite among students who attend.
Several events will be held in different locations from years past.
The Merchants’ Tent will be stationed in the parking lot behind the Municipal Building and Senior Citizens’ Building because of the plaza and splash pad construction on Main Street.
The contractor of the plaza project, Dan Houser of Shrock Construction, said June 30 that the plaza construction is on schedule and slated to be completed by the end of September 2021.
Depending on whether the construction is complete by the show, the tomato products, other vegetables and canned and baked goods will be set up in the parking lot at the corner of Main and College Streets.
The corn hole toss will be held in the parking lot next to the Historical Museum, mainly so it is more visible and closer to other activities, Well said.
All free entertainment will occur on the Main Street stage, and there will not be a second stage for entertainment as there had been previously, Well said.
The entertainment line up is as follows: Wednesday will feature the Fredericktown United Methodist Church Praise Team; Thursday the Granny Creek Ukulele Band will take the stage; Randy Otis Bandy and The Shuman Band will perform Friday; and The Jack will take the stage on Saturday night.
A full schedule of show events can be found at tomatoshow.com.
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