Fish frys, 5Ks, and Headhunters: Fulton County Homecoming returns to Salem

The Kentucky Headhunters, who will be performing live on Saturday at the 77th annual Fulton County Homecoming Festival in Salem.

The 77th annual Fulton County Homecoming Festival kicks off this Memorial Day holiday weekend, bringing a multi-day lineup of community traditions, live music, and athletic events to the city of Salem.

The festival begins Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a community fish fry at the Salem Senior Life Center on Church Street. The dinner, which features fried fish, chicken, and side dishes, is priced at $12 for adults and $7 for children, and will include door prize giveaways.

Evening activities shift to the downtown square starting at 6 p.m., featuring the GTS Physical Therapy bounce house playground and the Mike Watson State Farm cornhole tournament. Simultaneously, the band Whiskey Halo will perform outdoors until 9 p.m. at the FNBC Street Dance.

Saturday’s schedule begins early with athletic competitions. Registration for the Bank of Salem Mark Thomas Apple Pie 5K opens at 6:45 a.m., with runners hitting the streets at 8 a.m.

Youth activities take over the morning schedule on the square. The bounce house playground reopens from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration for the Elite Therapy Squirt Race begins at 9:15 a.m. ahead of a 10 a.m. start, immediately followed by the Terrapin Downs turtle race registration at 10 a.m. and racing at 11 a.m.

The afternoon lineup features a mix of traditional contests and community gatherings:

• 11:30 a.m. – The First Choice Healthcare horseshoe pitching contest begins next to the Federal Building.
• 1:00 p.m. – The Monty McCollough Memorial Parade moves through town. Lineup begins at 12:30 p.m. at Preacher Roe Park.
• 2:00 p.m. – Salem VFW Bingo starts at the post home on Veterans Way, located off Highway 395 North.
• 2:00 p.m. – The All-School Reunion commences at the Old Main building.

The festival concludes Saturday night at the Fulton County Fairgrounds Arena with a headlining concert by southern rock veterans The Kentucky Headhunters.

Concert gates open at 4 p.m., and the performance is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Food trucks will be operating inside the gates. While seating is available in the arena and bleachers, festival organizers noted that attendees may bring their own folding chairs and blankets. Tickets for the concert will be sold directly at the gate.