Jackson’s Poke Sallet Festival Working To Return This May

Jackson County’s Poke Sallet Festival is planning on a return this May.

The event hosted by the American Legion Post 129 is making a comeback for what would be its 44th year after COVID. American Legion Member Everette Vanhooser said that it’s important to them to keep the tradition alive.

“We knew that if we did not step forward that it was gone,” Vanhooser said. “We didn’t want in our life to be in a situation in our lives where someone could say ‘Well, they used to have a Poke Sallet Festival here.’ And we think in our mind, ‘Well maybe I had a chance to change that.'”

Vanhooser said that event will have a beauty contest, poke sallet eating contests, terrapin races, foods, and games. He said that it’s a wonderful event for the whole family.

American Legion Member Dale Smith said that the festival started in 1978. He said that it is always celebrated around Mother’s Day because it’s just coming out of the ground.

“Of course people that are not familiar with poke sallet if they’re coming from places where it doesn’t grow, it’s just a wild weed, probably a first cousin to turnip greens and stuff like that,” Smith said. “They say that it might not be good to eat unless you parboil it a couple of times and then fry it, and some people put eggs in it.

Right now, Smith said that the dates are set for May 5th-7th. He said they’re hoping with enough planning and preparation, the festival can happen safely for all to enjoy.