The Livermush Festival: Pardon me, excuse me, pass the livermush, y'all
By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column
OPINION — There were so many people at the 2026 Livermush Festival in Uptown Shelby (while I was there) on Saturday, Oct. 17, that in my opinion, it resembled something of a calm liver-mosh pit of organized chaos.
You couldn't walk more than a few feet without somebody bumping into you, or you bumping into somebody else. Food lines were so long they literally wrapped around the corners of the block near the old courthouse square / Earl Scruggs Center.
In comparison, I can only guess that it surpassed the biggest day at the Cleveland County Fair since 100,000 visitors are spread out across 11 days and some of those are people who go twice or more.
An estimated 20,000 people crowded into Uptown Shelby on Saturday, paying more attention to the vendors, food and attractions than to where they were walking. You learn quickly to keep your head on a swivel, your elbows tucked in and your expectations of personal space left somewhere back in the parking lot, a thousand miles away.
Barbecue, livermush, hot dogs, vinegar fries and armpits collide to produce an unmistakable aroma, reminiscent of the Fair just days ago. When that unique fragrance hits the nostrils it sends mixed signals to the brain that confuse the mind's reaction to a delightful repugnant reaction that won’t be bottled by any high-end perfume or cologne company anytime soon, but it's that familiar smell of crowded entertainment and tourism that we all know so well during festivals and fairs that make us reminiscence and regurgitate old memories, and we all go home smelling like livermush and body sweat at the end of the day, whether we want to admit it or not.
It was a sea of synchronized chaotic calmness as people walked to the harmony of music, announcements, sounds of random conversations and accidental elbow and shoulder bumping with strangers as people squeeze through the crowded streets of Marion, Washington, Lafayette and W Warren.
It’s loud. It’s crowded. It’s a little ridiculous. And I think, by judging by the number of people that showed up Saturday, folks wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Cleveland County Fair might draw more than 100,000 visitors over its 11 day run, which is a lot of fun and we all enjoy it, but The Livermush Festival makes a strong argument for being Cleveland County’s grandest single-day event of the year.
For a few hours, on a Saturday in October, Uptown Shelby becomes one giant gathering place, where neighbors run into neighbors, strangers share elbow room, and the simple act of getting from one side of the street to the other becomes an adventure.
It’s organized chaos at its finest.
My only complaint is trivial and not at all a criticism of the festival - I just think there should have been more food vendors this year and maybe Shelby could look into that parking deck they need really bad - just a thought, not a complaint; take it as a compliment.
To see the number of people at the 2026 Livermush Festival was amazing. This had to be a record breaking year for attendance; I would be surprised if it wasn't. I hope it paid off economically, because around here, apparently, all it takes to bring some 20,000 people together is a little livermush (and live music helps).
Oh, I almost forgot to ask... Does anyone else have heartburn this morning from enjoying too much delicious livermush on Saturday? Anyone... no? Didn't think so; ... uh, yeah, I was just asking for a friend.
Thank you to Cleveland County for organizing the event, and thank you to The City of Shelby for hosting the event, once again, in beautiful Historic Uptown Shelby.
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