RC Cola and Moon Pies!

It doesn't get much more Southern than RC Cola and Moon Pies! On Saturday, June 16 we hopped in the car and headed down to Bell Buckle, TN (population 405 and proudly self-touted as "100 years behind the times and proud of it") for the 13th Annual RC-Moon Pie Festival.

The idea for the Festival first began as a way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Moon Pie and to bring new visitors to this small Tennessee town known far and wide for antiques, quilts, handmade crafts, home-cooking and Southern hospitality.

While many have probably heard of RC Cola, many are probably wondering what the hell a Moon Pie is? Essentially, it's a marshmellow wrapped in graham cracker and covered in chocolate (and shaped like a hockey puck). Believe us ... they're GOOD!

Bell Buckle is about an hour southeast of Nashville and is one of those "don't blink or you'll miss it" towns, but not on this day. The event attracts close to 15,000 people for a day of games, contests, parades, arts and crafts booths, live entertainment (country and bluegrass -- we really liked Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain) and 25 food booths featuring such grub as smoked barbecue, hand squeezed lemonade and deep fried Moon Pies! The day concludes with the cutting and serving of the World’s Largest Moon Pie (literally 3 feet in diameter)! The day begins with a 10-mile race that we might consider running in next year.

3 RC's and 2 Moon Pies later, we headed back to Nashville -- not bad for a hot Saturday in Middle Tennessee! Until next time ...