If you’ve lived in Hopkins County for any length of time, you know the smell of smoke and simmering stew in late October means one thing: it’s Stew Contest time.
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, the tradition continues at Buford Park as hundreds of teams and thousands of neighbors gather for the 56th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest. This year’s theme is “Over the Rainbow.”
Hopkins County Stew Contest Schedule
The stew pots start bubbling early, with teams setting up before sunrise.
At 10:30 a.m., judges begin sampling the entries. By 10:45 a.m., the public can line up for bowls of hot chicken and beef stew served with cheese and crackers.
The stew flows into the afternoon alongside a kids’ Fun Zone, vendor booths, and plenty of catching up under the fall leaves.
Hopkins County Stew Contest Tickets
Tickets are expected to be $8 for ages 13+, which includes unlimited stew with all the fixings.
Quart containers will be available for take-home. Children 12 and under usually eat free thanks to local sponsors.
Buy in advance through the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce or at the gate on contest day.
2024 Hopkins County Stew Contest Winners
Want to see who took home the trophies last year? Read our recap:
Winners of 2024 Hopkins County Stew Contest.
Why the Stew Contest Matters
The stew contest is more than a meal—it’s a piece of Hopkins County’s identity.
It’s where you bump into old friends, share a laugh over a steaming bowl, and feel part of something bigger.
We come together the way we always have—around stew cooked over wood fires, with family and community in mind.
By Neil Andrew Lemons, HopkinsCountyHome.com