Hotdogger Blog

Food, Family, and Fun at Fun Fest 2010

While traveling the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Smiley Kylie and I encountered the 30th Annual Fun Fest in Kingsport. This 9-day event is one of the largest yearly festivals in the area where people from all over come together to enjoy food, family, and fun. Even on the last day, thousands of people were on the fairgrounds at sunrise, waiting for the 19 hot air balloons to take to the skies, a tradition that’s continued for all 30 years.

OH I WISH gets a front row seat to watch the hot air balloons launch

Throughout the day, there were several games and opportunities for families and friends to partake in. One such activity was the largest cornhole tournament we’ve ever witnessed. More than 500 participants from all over Tennessee and neighboring states competed in this day-long event, which happened to be set up right next to our Wienermobile.

Just a few of the several cornhole games set up for the competitors

With all the games and excitement of Fun Fest, it was certainly a fun environment for families to spend time together and have a good time. We met several families who have attended Fun Fest for several years as a time to bring the family together, as well as others who were experiencing it for the very first time. Such was the case of the family below, where three generations came together to see the Wienermobile for the very first time, in addition to enjoying the other festivities in the area.

This 3-generation family couldn't wait to get their photo taken with OH I WISH. Grandparents: Charles & Suzanne; Parents: Chad & Ramonda; Children: Graham, Campbell, & Everett

In addition to the numerous families in attendance, Smiley Kylie and I had the opportunity to meet Miss Kingsport, who also enjoyed seeing the Wienermobile for the very first time.

Miss Kingsport and I in front of OH I WISH

Miss Kingsport was interested in learning about the Good Mood Mission of Oscar Mayer and the partnership with Feeding America, as her platform has a relatively similar goal. Her platform, “Feeding the Future: Raising awareness of childhood hunger and the importance of proper nutrition” was inspired by The Lunchbox Program, a non-profit group in Hawkins County, TN, that feeds children during the summer. Much like Oscar Mayer’s Good Mood Mission, Miss Kingsport is interested in bettering the lives of others and spreading her good mood to those she works with.

Fun Fest concluded with a sold-out Zac Brown Band concert where an estimated 30,000 people came together to enjoy music, food, and good times inside the stadium. There were just as many people in the surrounding vicinity of the amphitheater who stuck around to enjoy the good music and the fireworks that marked the end of the 30th Fun Fest. OH I WISH enjoyed spending the day at the closing of Fun Fest, where the three important F’s of Oscar Mayer were clearly present: Food, Family, and Fun.