“We Are PRINT in Cleveland County”
www.shelbyinfo.com Our 42ND Year • Issue No. 41 • October 9, 2025
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Shelby to host 40th anniversary NC Livermush Festival October 18
By Alan Hodge
samples on soda crackers, bands play, and shopkeepers Fire up your taste buds and hold sidewalk sales. From that your fun buds because one of humble beginning, the festival our region’s premiere events, has blossomed into Shelby’s the NC Livermush Festival, will largest one-day special event. be coming to the Courthouse Another kudo? In 2012, the Square in downtown Shelby on General Assembly designated Saturday, October 18 from 9am the Shelby Livermush Festival as the official fall livermush to 4pm. This year marks the 40th festival of North Carolina. Karyn Owens-Patton is the anniversary of the event, which is more officially known as the Cleveland County marketing and Mush, Music & Mutts Festival. communications director. She’s The food and fun started back in excited about this year’s 40th 1985 when Bill McKee of Mack’s anniversary event. “The festival is a celebration Livermush, and local business owners, teamed up to create a of our local heritage, especially festival designed to draw folks to our livermush and folk music heritage,” she said. “This year uptown Shelby. The first gathering saw we expect the streets around McKee hand out livermush the courtsquare to be packed with people enjoying great food, music, activities for children, dog shows, and more. It is all free and a way for the whole family to have a great time.” T h i s year’s day will feature over 130 vendorsJust as there have been since the first festival in i n c l u d i n g 1985, there will be plenty of Mack’s Livermush over 30 sandwiches available at this year’s event. offering food
This year’s featured musical group will be South for Winter.
3-pc. Chicken Strip Meal
Includes dessert!
Look for similar crowds of folks having a great time at this year’s festival. (Photos provided)
Look for lots of colorfully costumed dogs like these at the Mush, Music & Mutts Festival festival. and beverage. Dogs will have their day at the festival. “There will be a pet festival with paw painting, live dog shows, a dog costume contest, and more,” Owens-Patton said. “Last year we had between two hundred and three hundred dogs take part in the fun,” Kids will have plenty to do. There will be a Land of Rhythm Kid Zone, pumpkin painting, Ross the Balloon Guy, the Dover Foundation YMCA Fun Zone, and the talented Poetry Fox typing out custom ditties. Music has always been a big part of the festival and for See LIVERMUSH, Page 6
The Livermush Eating Contest will be back for 2025. Here’s the long-running champ Michael Ellis chowing down last year.
Festival-related merchandise will be on sale again this year. Here’s last year’s hardworking merchandise crew, from left, Deanna Marshall, Cheryl Hamrick, Tempest Etheridge, and Timothy Bame.
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