By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–To say that the 70th World’s Biggest Fish Fry was a success would be an understatement. Even a beautiful double rainbow appeared on the last night of the week-long Fish Fry.
The final tally: 10,303 people came through the Fish Tent, with 13,000 pounds of fried catfish served. From 26,000 to 30,000 people were at the World’s Biggest Fish Fry Grand Parade. Lines of people wrapped all the way through the Fish Tent and out into the back parking lot. Lines and lines of cars from the fairgrounds, down Fairgrounds Rd. and onto East Wood St.
Jaycee Fish Fry Secretary April Summers said, “We had to shut the door to the fish tent at 8:15 due to running out of fish. In my many many years since I was a young kid, slinging drinks in the concessions I can truly say I have never seen the line be wrapped down the side of the fish tent to the road ALL DAY! The Paris-Henry County Jaycees and all the volunteers, businesses, and organizations that came out to help ROCKED IT this year!! They deserve all of the love and shout outs in the world!! Lots of long hours, long days, and late nights are put into making this day possible for our community.”
Former General Manager Jordan Holland said with Carmack’s reopening over the weekend and other local restaurants serving catfish, even US Foods ran out of catfish.
Jaycee and former General Manager Josh “Smokey” Taylor said it would be a toss-up between Friday or Saturday night as to which was the busiest for the Fish Tent, but it was a steady stream of customers.
Most everyone who ate the fish dinners–fried catfish, hush puppies, beans, slaw and fries–commented how tasty it was.
There was an off and on drizzle at the Grand Parade but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd. Parade winners are listed in a previous article published Saturday. Rain on Saturday morning postponed the Small Fry Parade and the Amateur Boxing event had to be moved from the court square to the Atkins-Porter Rec Center. But the morning’s other activities–catfish races and Junior Fishing Rodeo–were still held. And a large crowd was on hand for the Fish Fry finale–the Championship Bulls & Barrels Showdown Saturday night.
The Small Fry Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6.
Photo courtesy of April Summers.