Banana Festival contests offer something for everyone

The 2025 Banana Festival Rotary Club Car, Truck, Bike and Tractor Show will begin on Sept. 20 with registration at 8 a.m. Entry fee is $30 per entry with judging set to commence at 12 noon. Vehicles entered will be on display to view until 2 p.m. To register, forward a check made payable to Rotary Club of Fulton, P.O. Box 1065, Fulton, Ky. 42041, include name, address, phone number, email, year/make, body style and color of each entry. For more information contact Rotarian Shelby Dallas, 270-627-1088.

The Kiwanis Club of the Twin Cities, Ken-Tenn will once again sponsor the Banana Festival Kiwanis Club Cornhole Tournament Sept. 20, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Fulton Farmers Market, at 300 Walnut St. Entry fee is $50 for competitive division and $40 for social division. Cash prizes will be awarded. 

At 10 a.m., Sept. 20, the Banana Festival Banana Eating Contest will take place in front of the bandstand area of downtown Fulton’s Lake Street. There is no entry fee to compete, to test skills of consuming the highest number of bananas in one minute. Prizes will be awarded.

At 2 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 20, downtown Fulton’s Pontotoc Park stage will be the location for the Doggy Pageant, with check in for entries beginning at 1:30 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per participating pup. All contestants will be entered in a drawing for a huge pet-friendly gift basket. Categories are Beauty, Talent and Attire, with first, second and third place ribbons awarded and all entries will receive a participation ribbon. Best of Show will receive a ribbon and crown. 

The Fulton Lions Club will coordinate the Banana Festival Grand Parade, scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m., with category line-up to be assigned according to order of arrival at designated areas along the parade route, which will start on Broadway in South Fulton, make its way onto Commercial Avenue and then Lake Street in Fulton. Categories include large floats, mini floats, school spirit, kiddie floats/walkers, vehicles/ATVs and diversified with will include all entries not falling within designated categories. Prizes will be awarded in each category. 

For more information, questions, or entry forms, visit the official Banana Festival website, www.visitfultonky.com; stop by the Fulton Tourism Commission office in Fulton City Hall, 101 Nelson Tripp Place, call the Tourism Commission at 270-472-9000, or mail entries to Fulton Tourism Commission, P.O. Box 1516, Fulton, Ky. 42041.