Lamesa Chicken Fried Steak Festival this weekend

LAMESA, Texas (KJTV) - Lamesa is proclaimed as home to the original chicken fried steak. So it only makes sense that they’re getting ready for their 12th annual Chicken Fried Steak Festival.

“This year for our festival we’re expecting to see five to 15 contestants trying to cook the best chicken friend steak around,” said Brian Beck, host of the Festival. “They’ll be judged in a double-blind competition and we’ll declare who’s the best chicken fried steak cooker.”

There is a big change for the Festival this year, says city manager Joe Hines.

“We are not hosting a dinner on Friday night. But we’re having all the vendors provide some kind of chicken fried steak — either chicken fried steak bits or on a stick or actually a dinner,” Hines said. “We’ve got a number of vendors who come and say they’re gonna do it.”

A festival isn’t complete without a parade. The parade will be held Saturday night at 6:30.

“Starting on the town square and ending at the Forrest Park,” Hines said. “We’ve got a great line-up of bands on Friday night and Saturday night, great mix of music, from country to Latino.”

Host Beck said he expects to see a lot of booths for every age group.

“We’re gonna have everything form kids’ story time up through the music that lasts well into the night,” Beck said. “It’ll be a good time for everyone.”

Hines said there are a lot of people signed up for calf roping, which returns this year.

“We ask you to come on out and join us,” Hines said.

The Lamesa Chicken Fried Steak Festival is Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1 at Forrest Park in Lamesa.

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