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

Big thank you to Cherry Oakes Gym & Pool for supporting the Ayden Collard Festival Pageant!
08/28/2026

Big thank you to Cherry Oakes Gym & Pool for supporting the Ayden Collard Festival Pageant!

Some of our Queen contestants thanking Carolina Caliber Company for supporting our pageant.
08/28/2026

Some of our Queen contestants thanking Carolina Caliber Company for supporting our pageant.

Thank you Coltrain Hardware for supporting our Collard Festival pageant contestants!
08/26/2026

Thank you Coltrain Hardware for supporting our Collard Festival pageant contestants!

Thank you Copypro for supporting our Collard Festival contestants!
08/26/2026

Thank you Copypro for supporting our Collard Festival contestants!

Calling all Artists! Be sure to like the Art Show page to stay up to date with information. I think we can get them to 1...
08/26/2026

Calling all Artists! Be sure to like the Art Show page to stay up to date with information. I think we can get them to 1,000 likes by the festival! Let's do it!

And last but not least, our 2026 Ayden Collard Queen contestants: Elyse, Jakeylah, Lily, Reagan, Savanna, Sophia, Sydney...
08/25/2026

And last but not least, our 2026 Ayden Collard Queen contestants: Elyse, Jakeylah, Lily, Reagan, Savanna, Sophia, Sydney, Taniya.

Our titleholders will be selected by a panel of judges; there is no public voting component. We invite our community to use these posts to celebrate and encourage all of our wonderful contestants. Your kind words and support mean so much to each of them!

Our 2026 Collard Princess Contestants: Annabelle, Aubrey, Brooklyn, Ellie, Haley, KinleyOur titleholders will be select...
08/25/2026

Our 2026 Collard Princess Contestants: Annabelle, Aubrey, Brooklyn, Ellie, Haley, Kinley

Our titleholders will be selected by a panel of judges; there is no public voting component. We invite our community to use these posts to celebrate and encourage all of our wonderful contestants. Your kind words and support mean so much to each of them!

We are so excited to introduce our 2026 Ayden Collard Festival Pageant contestants! First up, our Little Miss Contestan...
08/25/2026

We are so excited to introduce our 2026 Ayden Collard Festival Pageant contestants! First up, our Little Miss Contestants: Addison, Adelyn, Bea, Ellie, Emmie Kate, Kinsley, Marleigh, Serenity, Sydney

Our titleholders will be selected by a panel of judges; there is no public voting component. We invite our community to use these posts to celebrate and encourage all of our wonderful contestants. Your kind words and support mean so much to each of them!

A few of our contestants stopped by Linda's Florist and Creations to thank them for the donation to our pageant.
08/25/2026

A few of our contestants stopped by Linda's Florist and Creations to thank them for the donation to our pageant.

We need more entries in our professional categories! Tag your favorite professional collard artist and let them know you...
08/25/2026

We need more entries in our professional categories! Tag your favorite professional collard artist and let them know you want them to enter! We have two categories: traditional and freestyle!

WE’RE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!!

Calling all collard cooks: We are bringing back to cooking contest! Get your aprons, your favorite pot and begin looking the right collards to take home the prize and be called the best in Ayden!

https://forms.gle/XcH9fjWjRPUc7B9a9

Address

P. O. Box 186
Ayden, NC
28513

Telephone

+12523758095

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