Columbia’s annual Cornbread Festival celebrates Southern staple

Are you a Southerner who eats food? Right, of course you are.

Then, naturally, you’re a fan of cornbread, just like the rest of us.

You can celebrate your love of cornbread and eat to your heart’s content Saturday at the third-annual S.C. Cornbread Festival at Newman and Main streets, near Earlewood Park.

“It’s just a good old time,” said Sabrina Odom, president of the North Columbia Business Association, which sponsors the festival.

Three bands, headlined by Atlanta natives The Tams, will play music throughout the daylong festival, which runs from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Nearly two dozen vendors will serve cornbread and other food.

Families can enjoy the day together, taking part in activities that include a classic car show, 5K race, cow-milking contest, play area and, for the first time this year, a cornhole tournament.

Professional and amateur cornhole players are invited to compete in the Cornbread Classic for prizes up to $2,000.

The party kicks off Friday afternoon with a cornbread cook-off featuring some 25 entries.

Admission to Saturday’s festivities is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under, seniors 75 and older, and active military personnel.

For more information, visit www.sccornbreadfestival.com.