BYRON, Ga. — Since 1979, downtown Byron has become the heart of friendly competition, good food, and quality time for their annual Battle of Byron festival.
Trey Barton came to compete in the mud volleyball tournament. It's his first time coming to the Battle of Byron Festival. He says his friends told him about it and he knew he had to participate for the "money prize."
Scott Hodges has been coming since he was 8 years old. He says the festival has changed over the years since he has been coming.
"They had the grease flag pole, grease pig chase, tricycle race, they had all kind of different things," Hodges said.
Hodges participated in the watermelon spitting seed contest as a kid. When he was a firefighter in his twenties, he said he competed in the bed race too.
Friendly competition wasn't the only thing on the festival schedule. There was a car show too. Vintage, well-kept vehicles lined the street for car enthusiasts to drool over but people were salivating for the food too.
Lara Moore with Byron United Methodist Church came to help with their bake sale. They have different kinds of cookies, cupcakes, and cakes for sale.
"We're trying to raise proceeds for the parking lot and the children's area over here, a new playground set," Moore said.
It was her first time being there and the same for food vendor, Nettie Henry and her business Netties Fried Pies.
"I made these wonderful pies that came down from my ancestors," Henry said.
Henry drove more than 70 miles after she heard from a friend about the festival. She said she signed up three months before the big day to sell her handmade fried pies.
Other people came with their family and friends and there were activities for the kids too. One mother came with her daughter because they wanted to support the small businesses and enjoy the good food.