This Saturday, October 20th, from 11 am – 2 pm, at least 360 pounds of catfish will be cooked and consumed by nearly five hundred. Plates are $8 and include fries, hush puppies, slaw, dessert & drinks. Kids plates are available for only $3.50.
Bluegrass music, 360 pounds of the best catfish you’ll ever taste help make this annual event a real crowd-pleaser.
An Annual Tradition
Held on the third Saturday every October, this gathering has become an area tradition in both Davie and western Rowan Counties. Fall at this nature park is breathtaking and when the old-time Blue Grass music is added, it becomes the ‘place to be’ for fellowship and a good time.
It all started with the new millennium. Ricky Glass rounded up his friends to raise funds by putting on a fish fry in 2000. Money went to buy land at the Bullhole and build a park. It is now a local fall tradition.
“When Ricky passed away, his good friends decided that the catfish fry was a great way to remember him,” says Ron Bivins. “Now, RiverPark has been open for ten years.”
“This will be our tenth fish fry and these guys have continued to pitch in to maintain this legacy. We’ve probably cooked over three thousand pounds of fish. No telling how many pounds of puppies and fries.”
Most say it’s the “best catfish they ever ate,” says RiverPark President Daphne Beck. “We are usually blessed with great fall weather, volunteers to help serve and lots of hungry patrons.”
The annual catfish fry and the July Duck Race raise funds to hire workers who keep the park clean and safe. Donations are always needed and welcome.
Tickets are on sale in Cooleemee at Village Auto and the Zachary House, in Mocksville at the Chamber of Commerce and in Salisbury at the LandTrust in the old railroad depot until the end of the workday on Friday.
RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls ~ The Bullhole
RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls, also known as “the Bullhole” is located on the South Yadkin River in Rowan and Davie Counties off Highway 801 South in Cooleemee. This beautiful outdoor nature park has many trails, picnic areas, a large picnic shelter with bathrooms, canoe access and portage area. Enjoy many of your favorite outdoor activities in one of the most beautiful sites in Rowan and Davie County.
View a photo gallery of Cooleemee Falls on the Davie County Flickr site and a video of Cooleemee Falls on your Davie County YouTube channel.
Use the map below for directions