2022 Mush, Music & Mutts: NC's Official Fall Liver Mush Festival

About the event

Mark your calendars for the 2022 Mush, Music & Mutts Festival - North Carolina’s Official Fall Liver Mush Festival on Saturday, October 15th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in beautiful Uptown Shelby! Recognized in regional and national media including Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods, this festival celebrates the unique regional delicacy and local food staple known as liver mush. Festival highlights include a liver mush eating contest, recipe contest and cookoff, live music, and more than 80 craft, food, and beverage vendors. Featured partner RollOver Pets presents the "Mutts" portion with a pet costume contest and parade, K9 demo and trick shows, musical sit contests and more! Enjoy freshly prepared liver mush sandwiches and dishes proudly served by local producers of this well-loved "delicacy"! Other featured partners and sponsors include Ingles, Cornerstone Dental Associates, Greenbrook Design, Cleveland Community College, and the Earl Scruggs Center. Free to attend, pets welcome, and fun for the whole family!

Dates

Oct 15, 2022 · 8:30 AM - Oct 15, 2022 · 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

The event has ended

Location

North Carolina, United States

318 S. Washington Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150, United States

Directions

Parking instructions

Festival Attendees will find parking areas around Uptown Shelby. PLEASE NOTE: There are businesses that state their parking us for their guests only... unless it says festival parking, we recommend you not park there. Some of those businesses will have your car towed.

Health & safety

We are planning for an in-person event and will follow and apply any COVID protocols recommended by public health officials in our area at the time of the event.

Event highlights

Live Music

Live music all day on stage and around the SQUARE! Featuring country music stars Joe Lasher & Kaitlyn Baker presented by Ingles Markets, local favorites The Dancing Fleas, Classy & Grassy, The Lejin and Band 124 and more.

Liver Mush Sandwiches

Mack's Liver Mush and Frank Corriher's will be represented at the 2022 festival, selling hot sandwiches.  Lines get long, but we hear over and over that it's worth the wait to get that hot, fresh livermush on a soft bun.  Other vendors and local restaurants also offer a variety of liver mush options.

Photo Credit: Brittany Randolph, Shelby Star

Pet Costume Contest, Parade & Performances

Featured partner RollOver Pets presents the "Mutts" portion with a pet costume contest and parade, K9 demo and trick shows, musical sit contests and more! Well-behaved, leashed pets with proof of Rabies vaccine are invited to attend.

Liver Mush Eating Contest

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Register Now: https://bit.ly/3TaUJoj

How brave are you? Have a big appetite?  Like cold, hard...cash? Participate in the annual Liver Mush Eating Contest. Top winner receives cash prize.  It's served in the package..cold...and part of the timing requires getting into the package/s you consume!  Condiments provided. (Liver Mush is fully cooked and safe to consume straight from the package...though most  prefer to eat it served hot and crispy!)

Photo Credit: Brittany Randolph, Shelby Star

Liver Mush Cookoff & Recipe Contest

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Sign up now at: bit.ly/3LV1nN5.

How many ways can Liver Mush be enjoyed?  Many people like it split and dropped (cut thin and deep fried), but there are many ways to enjoy. In the annual recipe contest, there have been pizzas, enchiladas, salads, lasagna, waffles and more!  Top winners receive cash prize and matching donation to a designated non-profit.

Little Miss/Mister Liver Mush Pageant

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This Event takes place at Shelby City Park, a short drive from the Main Liver Mush Festival.

The Little Miss/Mister Liver Mush Pageant is held every October during the Mush, Music & Mutts Festival in Shelby, NC. New for 2022, we have added a few Mister divisions. 

Contestants in the Baby, Toddler, Miniature, and Tiny categories (0‐6 years) participate in the Beauty and Casualwear categories and their choice of optionals.  

Contestants in the Little, Junior, Young, and Teen categories (7‐18 years) participate in the Beauty, Casualwear, and On‐Stage Interview categories and their choice of optionals. 

In all age categories there will be a fourth, third, second, runner‐up, and winner. 

Fourth, third, second place, and runner‐up finishers will receive a tiara, gift bag, and sash. 

All contestants go home with a prize!

Kids Costume Parade

Kids will gather at PSU at 1 E. Marion Street.  Costumes are optional.  
They will be led around the courtsquare by members of The Dancing Fleas, premiere ukelele band!  Cornerstone Dental Associates and Volunteers will provide bags and some  little surprises for each child (non-food items). Parade begins at 10:00 sharp.

Schedule

List Day