Attend a festival for traditional Southern collards

It all started in 1975. Ayden resident Mrs. Lois Theuring wrote a letter to the Ayden-NewsLeader suggesting the town host a festival. A committee was formed and the townspeople were polled, choosing the Ayden Collard Festival as the name for the event first held Sept. 13, 1975. Four decades later, you can still attend the annual celebration that includes a parade, a pageant, rides and attractions, a road race and of course, cooking and eating collard greens. The four-day event has been estimated to draw 15,000 visitors to join in the wholesome, healthy fun.