On May 30th, the town of Mentone launched their annual “Egg Festival”, named after the town’s historical landmark, the second-largest man-made egg in America weighing in at over 3000lbs.

Each Egg Festival is gifted a theme for the events. This year, the festival’s theme was “Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog”, making a nod towards the local elementary school’s mascot.

The Festival kicked off slowly with Flea Markets, Crafts, and Food Vendors lining State Road 25 for 3 blocks. Heading into the Second Day, Multiple Local Businesses set up booths to sell and advertise. Notably, the Bell Aircraft Museum set up a Food Stand selling “Bell Burgers”.

The Highlight of the Second Day, and the majority of the festival, was the 28th Annual Egg Festival Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show, where classic cars lined State Road 25, and wrapped around to continue down Tucker Street, leaving nothing but beauty for as far as your eyes could see.

Photo Credit – Christopher Bake | Alamo Studios

As the Car Show Concluded, the streets of Mentone rang out with music from the 1950s and 60s, as they began a silent auction. Music was performed on Friday by the Eel River Band from 6-9pm on East Main St. at The Barricade

On the Final Day of the Festival, attendees watched as the skies grew a dark grey from the impending storm moving through Northern Indiana.

Local High School Tippecanoe Valley’s Football Team hosted a Pancake Breakfast in the Mentone Emergency Services Building at 6am

Racing in for Second Place on the Agenda, was the Egg City 5K Run, starting at 8am in the Emergency Services Building, and leading around the town until 9am.

Runners and other Festival Attendees could enjoy a BBQ Cook-Off outside of Hartzler Funeral Home, hosted by Backyard BBQ, a new culinary addition to the town of Mentone.

After vendors took to the streets from 9am, the Egg Festival Parade was soon to commence at 11am. Leading the parade were Graduates from the last graduating class of the former Mentone High School, before graduates were directed to Tippecanoe Valley High School in 1975.

Moving into the Afternoon, the Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster contest took place on the main stage outside the emergency services building.

2024 Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster (L to R) – Gemma Harris, Gracen Harris, both siblings.
Photo Credit – Phoebe Muthart | InkFreeNews

After smaller events such as the Garden Tractor Pull, Egg Toss, and Cake Walk, came for an event everyone had been waiting for.

At 7pm in the Emergency Services Building, Soon-To-Be Freshman Olivia Fuller was named 2024’s Miss Mentone.

Photo Credit – David Slone | Times-Union

Pictured (L to R) are Miss Mentone 1st runner-up Jetta Hughes; Miss Mentone 2024 Olivia Fuller; and Miss Mentone 2nd runner-up Jayden Yarian.

The 2024 Mentone Egg Festival Came to an End with a Family Feud-Style Game Show held at 7:30pm in the Emergency Services Building

Article by Christopher Bake | Alamo Studios