GORDONSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Gordonsville will once again celebrate its deep-fried tradition at the annual Famous Fried Chicken Festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Town Hall northside parking lot. The festival is free to attend, though guests must pay $5 to enter the wine garden (proof of age required). Cash or check are preferred for all payments.

Long before the festival’s modern-day buzz, Gordonsville earned a spicy reputation as the “chicken‑leg center of the universe.” In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African American women—known as “waiter carriers”—would perch platters of fried chicken, pies, and coffee atop their heads and sell them directly to train passengers, as dining cars were not yet part of the journey. The Exchange Hotel, now a local landmark, was a central hub where these women conducted business.

“This town is separated by the railroad track. When the train came through, they could pick their fried chicken and serve it to the people, and that was their income. They were entrepreneurs early in life,” said longtime resident Emily Winkie, speaking about the entrepreneurial legacy of the women behind Gordonsville’s famous fried chicken.

A former waiter carrier, Bella Winston, recalled the economic empowerment the enterprise brought. “My mother paid for this place with chicken legs,” she said, citing the income she generated enabled her family to own their home.

The festival is a vibrant homage to this legacy. Attendees can savor homemade fried chicken passed down through generations, browse artisan and craft vendors, and sample a curated wine garden. For those feeling competitive, the festival hosts both fried chicken and pie cook-off contests, offering cash prizes:

• Fried Chicken Contest: $100 (1st); $75 (2nd); $50 (3rd)
• Pie Contest: $75 for top entries in fruit, cream, and custard categories

Despite the festival’s lively atmosphere, organizers remind attendees that no dogs are permitted, except service animals. The event is rain-or-shine—unless there’s a hurricane.

Beyond the food and fun, the festival underscores Gordonsville’s connection to its past and its tight-knit sense of community. Recipes are often family heirlooms, passed down to keep history alive across generations.

The location’s proximity to the historic Exchange Hotel adds another layer of depth. During the Civil War, the hotel served as the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital, tending to more than 23,000 wounded soldiers—including Union troops—and later treated newly freed enslaved people.

What to Expect This Year

The 2025 festival promises:

• A fried chicken and pie contest with cash prizes.
• A wine garden (ages 21+) with a nominal entry fee.
• Craft and artisan vendors offering local goods.
• A celebration deeply rooted in African American entrepreneurship and community pride

There is no cost to attend, making it an accessible, family-friendly event.

The Gordonsville Fried Chicken Festival isn’t just a culinary fair—it’s a living tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of African American women who shaped the town’s identity and economy. It serves both as a place to taste history and a gathering that cements the bonds of community.

Jen Bailey

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