Ozark Collard Green Festival Set for Nov. 21
Event brings a parade, cook-off, live music and family fun, with a pageant planned the night before
TL;DR: The Ozark Collard Green Festival returns Saturday, Nov. 21, with free admission and parking. Plans include an 8 a.m. parade, a collard green cook-off, live music, vendors and activities for children.
Collard greens will take center stage in downtown Ozark on Saturday, Nov. 21, as the Ozark Collard Green Festival brings together Southern food, local farmers and a full day of family fun.
Hosted by Joyful F.A.R.M.S., the event will feature a parade, live music, a car show, food vendors and a cook-off built around the leafy staple of Southern tables. Admission and parking are free. Some activities carry separate fees.
The parade starts at 8:00 AM, with other festival activities beginning at 9:00 AM and running through 4:00 PM. Visitors should check the final schedule before heading downtown.
For cooks, the day offers a chance to put a family recipe — or a fresh take on collard greens — to the test.
The cook-off will consist of four categories:
- Traditional Collard Greens
- Creative Collard Green Dish
- Restaurant
- School Team
A People’s Choice award is also planned.
Entry fees are $25 for individuals, families, teams, schools, groups and organizations. The entry fee for restaurants and food businesses is $50. Entrants are asked to register online, with check-in, judging and food-service instructions to be provided before the event.
Electrical service is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Cook-off questions may be sent to info@ozarkcollardgreenfestival.com.
Beyond the food, festival plans include a kids zone, games, farm tours and farm exhibits, centered around local growers, healthy food, youth opportunities and the ties between farming and community life.
The celebration begins the night before with the Joyful Farms Collard Green Festival Pageant, scheduled for 7:00 PM Friday, Nov. 20, at the Ozark Civic Center.
Pageant divisions include children, teens, adults and seniors, and the event is open to all ages, genders and ethnicities. The Grand Prize is a round-trip excursion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.
The Pageant has a $50 entry fee and an Oct. 17 registration deadline, which has passed. Anyone seeking details about the pageant or possible late entries should contact organizers at 334-498-7716 or eartha@joyful-farms.org.
Joyful F.A.R.M.S., the hosting organization, is a nonprofit cooperative that provides farm education and resources for new growers, veterans, women, people with disabilities and other underserved groups.
Festival guests should arrive early for the parade and allow extra time for street closures and traffic changes.
For updates, visit the Ozark Collard Green Festival website or follow @joyfulfarms on Facebook and Instagram. For more information, call 334-498-8341.
Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
