BELL BUCKLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The tiny town of Bell Buckle is celebrating a milestone for its favorite sweet-and-soda treat.

The annual RC Cola - MoonPie Festival is celebrating 30 years in Bell Buckle on Saturday, June 21.

Each summer the town of about 400 residents explodes as people from around the country come to celebrate the iconic snack duo of a MoonPie with a cold RC Cola.

The festival kicks off with a 5K and 10-mile race. The 10-mile is a certified run for aspiring competitive runners, according to festival officials. The races kick off a 7 a.m. and when they're complete, the annual parade starts making its way through the streets of Bell Buckle.

"The parade is definitely small-town, fun, kitschy—you never know what's going to happen or who's going to show up to that," Heather Williams, President of the Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce said. "We always have a lot of fun with the parade."

After the parade concludes, there is plenty more RC Cola and MoonPie fun to be had - there are games and contests and plenty of family-friendly activities to participate in, all with plenty of sodas and MoonPies to go around. One of the competitions is the MoonPie toss.

The game is exactly how it sounds, according to Williams: contestants see who can throw a MoonPie the farthest.

Per Williams, competitors take the competition seriously, with plenty of in-good-fun spirit.

Because this year also celebrates the 30th year of the festival, Williams said there will also be a special new game in line with the theme.

In addition to all the festivities, attendees will also be able to snag a piece of the World's Largest MoonPie, which is made every year specifically for the festival by the MoonPie bakery.

"Chattanooga Bakery literally shuts down production momentarily for us so that they can make the largest MoonPie that will fit through their tunnel. Once that goes out the tunnel and dressed, it's about 38 inches," Williams said.

And while there are larger MoonPies that are assembled, this one is the only in-tact MoonPie created by the original baker of the MoonPie.

"It is fantastic. It's the best MoonPie you will ever eat," Williams said.

Each year, the largest MoonPie baked has a different flavor in line with the festival's overall celebration theme. Last year's theme was all about Elvis, so the MoonPie was peanut butter and banana flavored. This year's specialty flavor is being kept under wraps until the day of the festival, so those who want a piece of the pie will need to head down to Bell Buckle to check it out in person.

For more information about Bell Buckle and the RC Cola-MoonPie Festival, visit the Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce website.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/rc-cola-moonpie-festival-celebrates-30-years-in-bell-buckle/