Annual Heritage Syrup Festival attracts thousands
HENDERSON - Carlos Tatum is a Henderson man who appreciates his town's Annual Heritage Syrup Festival.
To Tatum and his son as well as the thousands of others that showed up Saturday, it's just a lot of fun.
"Sometimes we're not able to get away and go to the Six Flags and go to the Sea Worlds and places like that. And they say 'Dad...are we gonna go to the Syrup Festival this year?' And I say 'yeah buddy, we're gonna go to the Syrup Festival.' I'll tell you what, I gave Isaac here 5 dollars and that 5 dollars is gone...in about 30 seconds!" Tatum said.
The Heritage Syrup Festival is in its 22nd year. Aside from the vendors, live entertainment, and food, it's meant to take people on a journey through the past. Particularly to experience old fashioned ribbon cane syrup-making.
"We try to examine, put on an example, of how they used to do it hundreds of years ago. This pan that we're cooking on is 150 years old," said syrup maker, Mark Wheat.
And for Carlos Tatum and his son, the festival means much more to them than just the syrup.
"That's what this Syrup Festival is all about - bringing people together, people you may not have seen in a long time. I'll tell you guy - I'm really enjoying myself," Tatum said.
The festival organizers say last years Syrup Festival attracted over 25,000 people.
When we spoke to them earlier, they were still trying to get a head count on this year.