Chitlin' Strut

Chitlin' Strut

November, Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving

The Chitlin' Strut is a feast of chitlins or chitterlings (hog intestines), held in the small town of Salley, S.C. The affair features a "hawg-calling" contest, country music, arts and crafts, a parade, lots of chitlins (about 8,000 pounds are devoured each year), and chicken for those not enamored of chitlins. (Former President George Bush has said he is a chitlin fan.) Chitlins are prepared by cleaning them well, boiling them until they are tender, and then, after coating them in egg and crumbs, frying them in deep fat until they're crackling crisp.
Salley was named for Col. Dempsey Hammond Salley, who donated the site in the 19th century.
The Chitlin' Strut began in 1966 to raise money for the town's Christmas decorations. The Strut now draws as many as 50,000 people, and Salley, with a population of 700, has used the revenues from it to pay for such necessities as trash cans, signs, and even a fire truck.

CONTACTS:
Chitlin' Strut
161 Railroad Ave. N.
P.O. Box 484
Salley, SC 29137
803-258-3485; fax: 803-258-3484
www.chitlinstrut.com
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. S.E.
Washington, DC 20540
202-707-5000; fax: 202-707-2076
www.loc.gov

SOURCES:
GdUSFest-1984, p. 171
(c)

Celebration days:
2011: Nov 24 - Nov 26
2012: Nov 22 - Nov 24
2013: Nov 28 - Nov 30
2014: Nov 27 - Nov 29
2015: Nov 26 - Nov 28