Paris, Tenn.–It’s the week many wait all year for: The Week of The World’s Biggest Fish Fry, from April 18 through 26.
Sponsored by the Paris-Henry County Jaycees, it’s the 73rd annual Fish Fry and the city of Paris will be an especially busy place all week, with a grand parade, dances, fried catfish and hush puppies, arts and crafts show, demolition derby, small fry parade, carnival and more.
The festivities start Saturday, April 18, at 8 a.m. with a Hushpuppy Dash 5K Walk/Run at TCAT on Wilson St.; the Car & Bike Show/Cruise-In from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Henry County Fairgrounds and the Demolition Derby at 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. (Admission for the Demo Derby is $15 and 5 and under free, pit passes $25 and Entry Fee $50).
Note that the Car & Bike Show is in a different location this year, at the fairgrounds.
On Monday, the Fish Fry kick-off Street Dance will be held at 7 p.m. downtown Monday, April 20, with free admission for the Ray Lewis Band.
The Carnival opens Tuesday and will be open at the Fairgrounds through April 26.
The James Greer Band performs at the Country Dance at 7-10 p.m. Tuesday at the Fairgrounds. $5 Admission.
The Fish Tent opens with all you can eat catfish, hush puppies, cole slaw, French fries, white beans and drink on Wednesday and stays open through April 26. Adult $20, children 6-12 $12. It opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at the Fairgrounds.
Thursday night: 7 p.., Nathan Shoemaker Band, Christian Concert, Fairgrounds, $5.
The Arts and Crats Show starts Wednesday, April 22 and runs through April 25 at the Fairgrounds. Free admission.
Grand Parade is at 10 a.m. Friday April 24 on East Wood St.
On Friday and Saturday, Bulls and Barrels Showdown will be at 7:30 p.m. at Fairgrounds, Admission $15, children 6-12, $12, children 5 and under free with paying adult.
Saturday, April 25, is the time for the Small Fry Parade, 10 a.m. Downtown, gather at First Baptist Church parking lot. Again, note the Small Fry Parade moves back to downtown Paris this year after being at Barton Field for a few years.
Junior Fishing Rodeo is at 11 a.. at Williams Lake, Free for Children 12 and under.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin.