It’s time for the Games.
But these Games won’t feature an extravagant opening ceremony, nor the traditional summer competitions.
Instead, these Games will be served up “Southern-style” by the Carter County Relay For Life.
The first-ever Southern Style Olympics of Carter County will be held Saturday, May 31, from 2-10 p.m. at the Beck Mountain Corn Maze.
“This is our twist on the Redneck Games,” said 2014 Relay Chair Genna Price. “There is something for everyone.”
The event will feature toilet seat horseshoes, bobbing for pigs’ feet, sack races, a watermelon seed spitting contest, a pie eating contest, mud pool diving, hubcap Frisbee and pig calling.
And that’s just so far: Price said it is likely more events would be added before the day of the Southern Style Olympics.
Also, Bobby Brantley of Lizard Lick Towing is scheduled to make a special guest appearance during the event.
“He has agreed to make a special appearance,” Price said. “He is going to come and mingle for a couple of hours. We have asked him to judge an event, so he might agree to do that.”
General admission to the event is $10 for adults and $5 for children age 3-8. Children under the age of 2 will be admitted free.
Price said there are other events planned that participants can enjoy for an additional cost. A corn hole tournament is set from 3-5 p.m. There will also be Pony Pile Bingo, a greased pig race and a cake walk. The cost for these activities is $5 per person.
A Miss Country Bumpkin Beauty Pageant is also planned. The cost for the pageant is $15 per person.
Entertainment is planned throughout the evening, featuring local bands and cloggers. Food and concessions will be available for sale.
“Come early and plan to stay all day,” Price said. “Bring your lawn chairs, a change of clothes, sunscreen and maybe a towel. It will be good family fun.”
Price said the goal for the fundraiser is to raise at least $5,000 for Carter County Relay For Life.
“I would love to be able to say we have raised $10,000,” she said. “This is a Relay-wide event. We are banding together to do this to raise money for cancer research. That is what it is all about.”
For more information, search for Southern Style Olympics on Facebook to find the event page.