Grainger County Tomato Festival: 4 things to know before you go

Maggie Jones | Knoxville

East Tennessee's annual celebration of tomatoes is coming up this weekend.

The Grainger County Tomato Festival will go from noon-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at ​7480 Rutledge Pike, Rutledge, on the grounds of Rutledge Middle and Elementary Schools.

The free event will feature Grainger County's famous tomatoes in several ways and also have vendors, concerts, dancing, living history exhibitions and the Tomato Wars.

Here's what to know before you go.

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What are the Tomato Wars?

The Tomato Festival will have tomatoes for sale and recipes to sample. In addition to that, you'll get to see the fruits in action.

The festival will showcase its annual Tomato Wars at 10 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Tomato Wars feature five-member teams, grouped by age, who face off in a field and throw ripe tomatoes at each other.

Those wanting to compete in the Tomato Wars can register in advance online at graingercountytomatofestival.com or in person at the festival. It costs $5 per person to compete. Competitors under 18 must have a release signed by parents to participate.

Trace Adkins concert and others

Country singer Trace Adkins ("Ladies Love Country Boys") will perform a free concert at the Tomato Festival at 7 p.m. Saturday on the football field behind Rutledge Middle School. Gates open for the concert at 5 p.m.

In addition to Adkins, other free shows will take place throughout the festival's duration. Here's a schedule:

Annual Grainger County Opry: 6 p.m. Friday in Rutledge Middle School

The McKameys: 4 p.m. Saturday in Rutledge Middle School

Mark Bishop: 4 p.m. Saturday in Rutledge Middle School (opening for The McKameys)

Tomato Festival Main Stage: Performances 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday

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Other Tomato Festival activities

Along with the Tomato Wars and concerts, the Tomato Festival will feature several vendors to shop from including food, drinks, clothing, crafts, art, authors and others.

The festival will also have inflatables and a play area for children, and a living history exhibition will showcase period crafts and machinery from noon-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

What to bring/not bring

Attendees can bring their pets to the Tomato Festival as long as they clean up after them, according to the event's website. The festival will have bowls of water and misting stations to help keep them cool.

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Attendees can bring chairs and blankets to sit on during the Trace Adkins concert. Guns, alcohol and coolers are not allowed, and attendees must use clear bags for the concert, according to the event's website.

For more information and a map of the festival grounds, visit graingercountytomatofestival.com.