THE ANNUAL Slawburger Festival, presented by Fayetteville Main Street, draws families and visitors from across the Southeast for a day of distinctive Southern food, live music, and community togetherness. The festival dates back to the 1920s, when Honey’s Restaurant first served what would become the “famous slawburger,” a sweet-and-tangy, mustard-based slaw piled on an all-beef patty. Honey’s still serves the dish today. Fayetteville Main Street created the festival in 2015 to celebrate this local legacy. Executive Director Aimee Byrd joined the organization as a board member in 2020 and became the director in 2022.
“There is something incredibly meaningful about watching generations come together over a hometown burger that carries so much history. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing downtown full of life and hearing people say how proud they are of Fayetteville,” Byrd said.
This year’s festival took place on April 18 in the downtown square area. Visitors could walk the grounds and shop with local vendors, finding handmade crafts, baked goods, jewelry, woodcarvings, and other unique items. The festival offered games and competitions such as an ice cream contest and the beloved slawburger-eating competition; youth in attendance were especially excited that organizers created a teen division for ages 13 to 17 for the contest for the first time. Children also enjoyed watching the pet costume show and spending time in the Kids Zone, which offered bounce houses, games, and face painting.
Guests were also treated to live entertainment from 3 to 9 p.m., headlined by Third Party Thieves, a Southern rock party band that inspired people to dance and sing along. It was the perfect family outing or shopping day with friends.
“People keep coming back year after year because it feels authentic — families build traditions around it. It’s Fayetteville at its very best,” Byrd said. GN
