Ayden Collard Festival

Ayden Collard Festival For more info visit website at www.aydencollardfestival.com. In the early 1800s, the little community that we know as Ayden, was known as Ottertown.

Otter Dennis was a lot of things, but a gentleman he was not. He was known as a mean and ruthless man who loved nothing better than a good fight. Because of his frequent encounters with the law, Otter Dennis was forced to leave town to avoid being imprisoned. In the 1870s, as legend has it, our community got its name from its reputation. The community was known at that time as Aden, because every

criminal misfit and cut-throat who had been banned from or run out of another area came and settled here. We were known as a den of corruption, or to some, a den of thieves. At that time, the town was located about a mile and a half west of its present site, or about where Farmer’s Funeral Service is now located. About 1888 or 1889, the railroad came through this area, and its location is the same today as it was then. A man by the name of William Henry Harris laid off streets along the railroad and the town moved from its old site to its present site. At the time our community was started along the railroad, Second Street was the main street. And about this time, the town changed its name to Harrisville, a name that lasted one year. In 1890, when we were trying to get a post office and be chartered as a town, the name Harrisville was dropped and the old name of Aden was proposed by Alfred Harrington. Congressman Small, who was our representative in Washington at that time, suggested to Mr. Harrington that a “y” be placed after the “A” in Aden to help dignify the name. It was done and in 1891 we were chartered as the Town of Ayden. Ayden has made much progress through the years and continues to change with time. History of the Ayden Collard Festival

It all started in the spring of 1975, when Mrs. Lois Theuring wrote a letter to the editor of the Ayden-NewsLeader suggesting that Ayden have a festival. After considerable discussion, a committee was formed and a “festival” went into the planning stages. It was decided to let the citizens of Ayden vote on naming the festival. Six names were selected to choose from: Collard Festival; Cucumber Festival; Garden of Ayden-Almost Paradise; Harvest Festival; Progressive Ayden Day; and September Fun Festival. Ballots were printed in the local newspaper and “Collard Festival” won by a large margin. Committees were formed and Saturday September 13, 1975, was chosen for Ayden’s first Collard Festival. On that day, Ayden was the scene of a large street dance; a parade witnessed by 6,000 people; amusement rides; and booths filled with many fun activities. The Ayden Collard Festival, which is now over 30 years old, is held the first weekend after Labor Day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoTR93X62wg

09/11/2026
👑🥬 CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES! 🥬👑A big congratulations to Emmie Kate Richardson, our 2026 Little Miss Collard! 💚👑And congra...
09/10/2026

👑🥬 CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES! 🥬👑

A big congratulations to Emmie Kate Richardson, our 2026 Little Miss Collard! 💚👑

And congratulations to our runners-up:
🌟 First Runner-Up: Addison Triplett
🌟 Second Runner-Up: Marleigh Huggins

We are so proud of each of these sweet girls and the joy they brought to the 2026 Ayden Collard Festival Pageant! 💚

Help us give a big CONGRATULATIONS to our Little Miss Collard and her court! 👑🥬🎉

Make sure to stop by the Ayden Museum while you’re at the Festival this weekend! Learn about the town’s history includin...
09/10/2026

Make sure to stop by the Ayden Museum while you’re at the Festival this weekend! Learn about the town’s history including history of Cabbage Collards, the festival and BBq in Ayden! Hours are Thursday: 10:30-2:30 Friday: 10:30-2:30 and Saturday 10-3!

We are grateful to Phelps Chevrolet for sponsoring the Ayden Collard Festival! Support from local businesses like Phelps...
09/10/2026

We are grateful to Phelps Chevrolet for sponsoring the Ayden Collard Festival! Support from local businesses like Phelps Chevrolet helps us continue this community tradition and provide a festival that families look forward to each year.

Thank you, Phelps Chevrolet, for investing in our festival and our community!

Tonight, we say farewell to Ava Dail, our 2025 Collard Queen and welcome the 2026 Collard Queen! Join us at the Ayden Ar...
09/10/2026

Tonight, we say farewell to Ava Dail, our 2025 Collard Queen and welcome the 2026 Collard Queen!

Join us at the Ayden Arts and Recreation Center at 6:30 to cheer for Ava and the 2026 Collard Queen contestants!

👑💚 CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES! 💚👑A huge congratulations to Brooklyn Smallwood, our 2026 Ayden Collard Princess! 🌟👑And congr...
09/09/2026

👑💚 CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES! 💚👑

A huge congratulations to Brooklyn Smallwood, our 2026 Ayden Collard Princess! 🌟👑

And congratulations to our runners-up:
🥬 First Runner-Up: Ellie Johnson
🥬 Second Runner-Up: Aubrey Gates

We are so proud of each of these beautiful young ladies! Thank you for sharing your smiles, personalities, and Collard Festival spirit with us. 💚

Help us give a big CONGRATULATIONS to our 2026 Ayden Collard Princess and her court! 👑🥬🎉

The Ayden Collard Festival is proud to recognize Tripp Bro's Inc. as one of our major sponsors.As a family-owned busines...
09/09/2026

The Ayden Collard Festival is proud to recognize Tripp Bro's Inc. as one of our major sponsors.

As a family-owned business understands the importance of investing in the place they call home. Their consistent support of our community helps make events like the Ayden Collard Festival possible and reflects their commitment to the people and organizations that make our town special.

We are incredibly grateful to them for their generosity, their partnership, and all they do for our community. Thank you, Tripp Brothers Industries, for continuing to support the Ayden Collard Festival!

Make sure you are prepared and know where to go and what to bring for the festival!
09/09/2026

Make sure you are prepared and know where to go and what to bring for the festival!

We have a lot going on this week for the 2026 festival! Be sure to check out our website for the full schedule of events...
09/08/2026

We have a lot going on this week for the 2026 festival! Be sure to
check out our website for the full schedule of events!

Don't miss the Ayden Collard Festival Pageants at the Ayden Arts and Recreation Center! The Little Miss and Collard Prin...
09/08/2026

Don't miss the Ayden Collard Festival Pageants at the Ayden Arts and Recreation Center!

The Little Miss and Collard Princess pageants are tonight, September 8 at 6:30 and the Collard Queen Pageant will take place on Thursday, September 10 at 6:30! Admission is $7 and up and we plan to have a limited number of Collard Festival shirts available for purchase!

Make sure you follow the Ayden Collard Pageant page to stay up-to-date! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Vzq4hxbXJ/

Address

P. O. Box 186
Ayden, NC
28513

Telephone

+12523758095

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