Macon County Hillbilly Days.

Today, through his work with the Lions and Lioness clubs, B.J. helps lead an event that draws thousands of visitors. Some families plan vacations around the weekend, and guests travel from as far away as Canada and even the Philippines, all drawn by the warmth and hospitality that
define Hillbilly Days.

COMMUNITY ROOTS

The event’s roots stretch back to the late 1970s, when Hillbilly Days began as a modest community gathering centered on music and fellowship. Stewardship later passed through local groups, including the Quarterback Club, before the Lions and Lioness clubs assumed leadership in the mid-1990s. Since then, the festival continued to grow while staying grounded in its original purpose. “We listen,” B.J. says. “Every year, we talk about what worked, what didn’t and what we can do better.”

That commitment to listening and improving contributes to the festival’s longevity. To mark its 50th anniversary celebration, organizers are planning additional electrical access for vendors, pavilion upgrades, expanded activity space and more bands and special guests, including television personalities from Nashville.

Behind the music and fun is an important mission. Proceeds support the Lions Club’s charitable work throughout the year, which includes providing eyeglasses, eye exams, eye surgeries, hearing assistance, school backpacks and the Shop with a Cop program during the Christmas season. One moment stands out to B.J. when, during a past festival, a visitor stopped simply to say thank you for the eye-glasses the Lions Club provided the year before. “That’s when you know it matters,” he says. “That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

TATERS TO TUNES

Food is a central part of the Hillbilly Days experience, especially the Lions Club fish fry. Volunteers serve plates of fried fish while gospel music carries across the park. Hush puppies, made using Ercie Sisco’s recipe, are a perennial favourite. Although Ms. Ercie, as she was most often called, died in 2017, the beloved community member’s hush puppies are a tradition all their own. Slightly sweet, filled with chopped onions and fried until golden, they have a devoted following.

Festival favorites also include classic Southern comfort foods like kettle corn, blooming onions, pinto beans with cornbread and the festival’s famous taters, thick-cut potatoes sliced into quarters, dipped in pancake batter and deep-fried until golden. Guests are encouraged to save room for the hot fudge cake topped with ice cream. For many longtime attendees, the food alone is enough reason to mark their calendars each year. Music anchors the weekend event, with bluegrass and gospel setting the tone.

Macon County Hillbilly Days Celebrating 50 years of music, tradition and community Lions Club member Angie Sullivan is all smiles in her overalls and sunflower hat.

North Central 9 Gary Reese, a former member of the Osborne Brothers band, returns each year to play bluegrass, connecting the festival’s past and present through music. Throughout the weekend, fiddles, banjos and harmonicas fill the park as crowds gather under shade trees and along the pavilion to listen. Once the music begins, it rarely stays on the stage. Buck dancers step forward, and before long, others are tapping, clapping and swaying right along, just as they have for decades. It is an unplanned moment that captures the heart of Hillbilly Days— tradition is lived, not staged.

FRIENDLY COMPETITIONS

That spirit carries into the festival’s contests and activities. Popular events include junior and senior fiddle and banjo competitions, harmonica contests, buck dancing, an old-fashioned cakewalk, cornhole tournaments, bounce houses and the beloved Itty Bitty Hillbilly pageant. The Hillbilly Hurl disc golf challenge continues to grow in popularity.

The Mister and Misses Hillbilly Contest remains a longtime crowd favorite, ending with a good-natured pie-in-the-face finale. Another cherished tradition is the annual search for the “hillbilliest” attendee. For years, this prize was claimed by Hobart Hauskins, who arrived each year in his trademark overalls and straw hat. Hobart passed away several years ago. Admission is free, and festivalgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, settle in and enjoy the food, music and fellowship. Easy parking and accessible paths help ensure the event remains welcoming to all.
As Macon County Hillbilly Days marks its 50th anniversary, it stands as a testament to neighbors helping neighbors, traditions honored and a community strengthened through service. What begins with music, food and laughter grows into something deeper: a shared legacy that continues to shape Lafayette for generations to come.