Booths: Rocky Top Theme - ICARE Union County, Best Heritage - A&B Bookkeeping and Tax Service,1st Best Booth - Uncle B's Barbecue, 2nd Best Booth - Nana's Attic, 3rd Best Booth - Little Valley Nursery, Best Demonstration - Tri County Veterans Honor Guard, Item of Distinction (Food) - Boiled Peanuts by KC Creations, Item of Distinction (craft) - Wine sign by Mtn.
The annual Pie and Cake Contest at the UC Heritage Festival was a huge hit this year, drawing an impressive 27 delicious entries from local bakers eager to show off their culinary talents. The sweet aroma of pies and cakes filled the air as judges sampled everything from fruit-filled creations to rich chocolate delights.
In the Pie Contest, Kathy Venturella took home the title of Grand Champion Pie and a $100 prize with her show-stopping Lemon Meringue Pie.
Union County bakers have one last chance to enter the Cake and Pie Contests at the 2025 Union County Heritage Festival. Entries will be accepted at the Union County Extension Office on Thursday, October 2, from 4 to 5 p.m., and Friday, October 3, from 8 to 11 a.m. Judging will take place Friday at 12:30 p.m.
So on October 4, 2025, the Union County Heritage Festival is giving a nod to our agricultural heritage with the theme, “Plowing the fields”. Let's hop on Carl's tractor and tour Wilson Park. At the entrance, take a selfie with Smokey and drill into a log to guess its age. Inspect the Antique cars and pick up a copy of Historic Union County Newspaper. Inside HUC is the program map to guide our tour.
Our memories of growing up on a farm shape our minds and our bodies to tackle life's struggles. But these farm memories also allow us moments of sheer joy. So it is with the memories that Betty Bullen recalls regarding the 2025 Heritage Festival Collectible Print, “Following the Plow”. In Betty's own words, she describes this vividly fond memory: “ I grew up in Union County and lived here all of my young life.
Union County bakers, it’s time to preheat the ovens—the Cake and Pie Contests are back for the 2025 Union County Heritage Festival. This much-loved tradition brings together the community’s best bakers while raising funds to support the Union County Family & Community Education (FCE) Club.
The contests are free to enter and open to all ages. Entries must be completely homemade, with no store-bought mixes, frostings, crusts, or fillings allowed. Each entry should be accompanied by a recipe card and completed registration form.
The Union County Heritage Festival is set for Saturday, October 4, 2025, and one of the sweetest traditions will once again take center stage: the Cake and Pie Contests. Bakers of all ages are invited to show off their skills, compete for cash prizes, and help raise funds for the Union County Family & Community Education (FCE) Club.
The Union County Farmers Market is hosting a Giant Pumpkin, Giant Watermelon and Ugliest Vegetable Contests as part of the Heritage Festival on October 4. Pumpkins and watermelons will be weighed on the market scale at 115 Durham Drive from 8 to 9 a.m. on festival morning. The Ugliest Vegetable will be judged on appearance only.
Learn to make cornbread at a free workshop on September 24, hosted by Union County 4H. Agent Abigail Thomas will teach you all you need to know to stir up and bake some warm buttery cornbread.
Attendees will demonstrate their skills at the October 4 Union County Heritage Festival.
Call 865-992-8038 or email athomas@utk.edu to sign up and reserve your spot for either cornbread making or demonstrating. Better hurry. Spaces will fill up fast!
New to this year’s upcoming Union County Heritage Festival is the Cake Baking Contest. The UC FCE Club will coordinate the contest and provide the judges. Participants may enter one cake that is totally homemade in each of three categories: Layered, Sheet and Bundt. A recipe card and a registration form must be submitted with the cake.
Cakes must be delivered to the UC Extension Office at 2721 Maynardville Highway on Thursday, October 2, from 4 to 5 p.m. or on Friday, October 3, from 8 to 11 a.m.