BAILEY — Despite afternoon heat and an evening shower, the first Sweetpotato Festival was a huge success, according to organizers.

“We were disappointed that the storm forced us to cancel our finale by East Coast Rhythm and Blues, but overall, it was a great day,” said Tammy Bissette, event coordinator for the Bailey Chamber of Commerce.

Temperatures reached into the mid-90s on Saturday.

“We are so thankful to everyone that braved the heat with us to make it a great day,” Bissette said.

The event, which took up all of Main Street in downtown Bailey, kicked off with a car and motorcycle show, a sweet potato recipe contest and chicken wing cook-off, a holdover from a summer street festival last year.

The day included food, music and family-friendly fun, as well as photo opportunities with Miss Bailey 2021 and Spencer, the N.C. Sweetpotato Commission’s mascot.

Michelle Grainger, executive director of the N.C. Sweetpotato Commission, said the organization was honored to be part of the festivities.

“Many of our beloved sweet potato growers are right here in southern Nash County, and we can’t think of a sweeter way to honor them and our state’s industry than this festival, which we hope will offer both fun memories and agricultural education for many generations,” Grainger said.

The festival is presented in partnership with Jones Family Farms, Barnes Farming, Farm Pak, Vick Family Farms, Spring Acres Sweet Potatoes, Nash Produce and The BigDawg 98.5 FM.

Nash County is one of the top five sweet potato-producing counties in North Carolina.