Gordonsville is famous for its fried chicken. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, local women carrying platters of the delicacy on their heads served it, along with pies and coffee, to passengers of trains stopping in town. Nationally-known at that time, Gordonsville's fried chicken earned the town the nickname of "chicken-leg center of the universe". We celebrate this heritage annually at our Famous Fried Chicken Festival.
Click on this link to view VPM's Hidden History with Brian Bullock's brief about Gordonsville's fried chicken heritage.This year's festival will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 11 am - 5 pm at the Gordonsville Fire Company Fair Grounds. The event will feature a fried chicken and pie contest, wine garden, and numerous craft and artisan vendors.
This is a rain (non-hurricane) or shine event!
There is no cost to attend the festival, but there is a $5.00 fee per person to enter the wine garden (proof of age required--only those 21 and older permitted in the Wine Garden). CASH OR CHECK ARE PREFERRED METHODS OF PAYMENT.
NO DOGS PERMITTED AT THIS EVENT: We love pets, and we know you love yours. However, we ask that you leave your pets at home as they are not permitted at this event (service dogs excluded, of course).
COOK-OFF CONTEST
Join in on the fun at the Fried Chicken Festival and become a cook-off contestant! Cook-off guidelines and contest entry forms may be accessed by clicking on these links:
Fried-chicken contest
Pie contest
Brag about and show-case your family’s fried chicken recipe! Watch people’s mouths water in anticipation of your greatest pie yet! And best of all - in addition to gaining the ultimate bragging rights for the next year, you could win one of the following prizes:
Fried Chicken Contest:
1st place - $100
2nd place - $75
3rd place - $50
Pie Contest:
1st place by category (fruit, cream and custard) - $75
VENDORS
To reserve your spot as a wine or craft/artisan vendor, click on the links below for an application form:
Wine Garden Vendor Application
Craft/Artisan Vendor Application
PAYMENT OF FEES
Contest fees, vendor registration fees, and wine garden entrance fees may be paid online through PayGov.us using code #37828**. Entry to the Wine Garden will be permitted upon showing your PayGov purchase confirmation code to personnel at the wine garden entrance, and upon proof of age.
Only those 21 and older are permitted in the Wine Garden.
**Please note: there is a convenience fee charged for each transaction on PayGov. The fee is $1.00 for any transaction under $33.00, and 3% for each transaction over $33.00.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
For more information, contact David Solomon, Gordonsville Visitor Center Director, at 540-832-1735 or email David at dsolomon@gordonsville.org
We hope to see you at the Festival!