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 The
annual Easter Monday Herring Festival may be different than it
was decades ago, but the spirit is still the same.
Locals and visitors
will gather to enjoy good fellowship and great food (including the
elusive herring). On the top of "the hill" fish & barbecue
plates, steaming hot dogs, homemade brownies, pies, cookies and cakes
will help raise money for churches and civic clubs. Undoubtedly, another
line will form outside the Cypress Grill as the smell of fried herring
beckon those of us addicted to the bony delicacy. And children will run
up and down "the hill" while their mothers yell at them to be
careful.
These activities have
been constants for over half a century at this rite of spring. Years
ago, the event
served as a "homecoming" for
natives of the county who had moved away. People enjoyed visiting with
one another while they watched the big "seine" pull in
thousands of fish, or saw one of the more unique
features of the Roanoke—a "fishing machine"—scoop up so
many herrings and other fish that the strange contraptions often risked
sinking!
 That would be no
probably today! Special "dispensation" from the state
had to
be
arranged to allow herring fishing during the festival in recent years.
The Cypress Grill and River's Edge Restaurant have managed to find
enough to feed the faithful, but getting there early isn't a bad idea.
This year, as usual,
you can expect lively music, rides, games, crafts and more along with
the traditional pleasures. Enjoy a baseball tournament on Friday and
Saturday; fireworks on Sunday night, and the annual festival on Monday.
Call the Jamesville Town Hall for more information at 252-792-5006.
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