For this week’s Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts are celebrating the 49th Fredericktown Tomato Show! The hosts share their favorite ways to enjoy the tomato.
Listen to The Morning Thing hosts’ Friday Favorites HERE, or click the image below!
More information about the 49th Fredericktown Tomato Show can be found HERE!
We talked with Fredericktown Tomato Show board member and stage manager Kyle Lepley about this year’s entertainment lineup and some of the traditions that make the festival special!
Click HERE to hear the conversation!
Kyle, who has been involved with the Tomato Show for 27 years, helps oversee the stage, sound, and hospitality needs for performers throughout the week. This year’s entertainment includes the Royal Princesses, Michael Mage, The Stepbrothers, Zach Attack, and Saturday night’s featured act, the Red Ball Jets.
Kyle also shares details about the annual Plate Auction, taking place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. before the Red Ball Jets perform. The auction features ten hand-painted commemorative plates, with this year’s design honoring the longtime Porkette sandwich tradition and the Knox County Pork Council’s 50th anniversary. The first plate sold will benefit the Chris Wells Scholarship Fund, while proceeds from the auction help support the Fredericktown Tomato Show.
This year’s theme, “Freedom, Unity, Remembrance,” recognizes America’s 250th anniversary and coincides with the 25th anniversary remembrance of September 11. Kyle says the festival is a special opportunity for families and friends to come together, celebrate their community, and reflect on the freedoms and values that unite us.
We talked with Fredericktown Tomato Show volunteer Corey Fearn about some of the big events happening during this year’s festival!
Click HERE to listen to the conversation!
Corey, who is in his fourth year volunteering, is helping with the annual 5K Run, Bathtub Races and parade. The 5K begins Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Fredericktown Schools Administrative Building, with awards for overall winners and medals for the top three finishers in each age group. This year’s race will also feature an America 250-themed costume contest.
Corey also shares details about Saturday’s parade, which begins at 12:30 p.m. near the Fredericktown Police Station. Participants can preregister or register the morning of the parade, and a hospitality tent will be available with food and beverages. Beyond the events themselves, Corey says one of his favorite parts of the Tomato Show is watching families and children enjoy activities throughout the week and seeing the community come together.
This year’s theme, “Freedom, Unity, and Remembrance,” celebrates America’s 250th birthday while encouraging reflection on the nation’s history, freedoms and values. And when it comes to Corey’s personal favorite part of the festival, the answer is simple: the fair food!
Click HERE for more info about the Fredericktown Tomato Show!
WNZR recently spoke with Lesley Ruggles, Director-at-Large with the Fredericktown Tomato Show Board, about one of the festival’s most popular family events—the Baby Crawling Contest!
Click HERE to hear the full conversation!
Lesley has helped coordinate the contest for 13 years and says it remains one of her favorite parts of the Tomato Show. This year’s contest takes place Friday at 6 p.m. in front of Park National Bank, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. Babies 12 months old and younger will compete in four age divisions, with cash prizes awarded to the top three finishers in each group.
The contest also includes fun awards such as Best Tomato-Themed Outfit, Best Crier, and Biggest Show-Off. Families are encouraged to bring a favorite toy or snack to help motivate their little ones toward the finish line. Lesley also talks about the excitement of seeing all the babies together, the popular winners’ podium photo opportunity, and the contest’s sponsorship by Ruggles Electric.
During the interview, Lesley also shares what she looks forward to most at the Tomato Show—including enjoying an elephant ear—and reflects on this year’s theme, “Freedom, Unity, and Remembrance.” With the parade falling on September 11, she says the theme provides an opportunity for the community to honor those who have sacrificed for our nation while celebrating the traditions and unity that make the Fredericktown Tomato Show special.
Click HERE for more info on the Fredericktown Tomato Show!
The Fredericktown Tomato Show gets underway with plenty of family fun, and tonight, all eyes will be on the Main Stage for the Little Miss Tomato Contest! WNZR recently talked with Tomato Show Board President Kim Fearn about this special tradition.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.
This year, 17 six-year-old contestants will compete for the title, with each girl wearing a red dress and taking part in a two-minute interview on stage. The contest begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. on the Main Stage at Main and First Streets, with one winner and three runners-up selected by out-of-town judges. The interviews are often one of the most entertaining parts of the evening, making this a fun event for the whole family!
Kim also shared details about the official Tomato Show merchandise, including $15 T-shirts, $20 travel mugs, and $20 fleece blankets, available at the Hospitality Tent during the festival. This year’s theme, “Unity, Freedom, Remembrance,” recognizes America’s 250th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of September 11. WNZR will be LIVE “On the Road with Big Blue” throughout the Fredericktown Tomato Show, bringing listeners the excitement, events, results, and community stories from the festival. Tune in to WNZR and visit wnzr.fm for more information and your chance to win great prizes!
Click HERE for more information.
The 2026 Fredericktown Tomato Show has something for everyone, including plenty of food, rides, entertainment, and fun for the kids! WNZR recently talked with Fredericktown Tomato Show Director Cale Grubb, who has been involved with the show for 25 years.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.
Cale says he’s looking forward to seeing the community come together—and he’s making sure no one leaves hungry! Concessions will be available throughout the show, with a variety of returning favorites and new vendors. The rides will be located around the square, including a Ferris wheel, and will open at 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday. Ride bands will also be available for a full day of fun.
Kids can join the fun with the Kids Parade on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., beginning near the Brickhouse Grind parking lot. Registration starts at 6 p.m., and children can dress up in different classes for a chance to win prizes. There will also be Disney princesses and entertainment on the main stage! Throughout the week, you’ll find plenty of live music and entertainment, including Michael Mage, Step Brothers, Zach Attack, and Red Ball Jets. WNZR will be LIVE “On the Road with Big Blue” throughout the Fredericktown Tomato Show, bringing you highlights, events, results, and the excitement of the festival. This year’s theme, “Freedom, Unity, Remembrance,” is especially meaningful as the community celebrates America 250 and remembers the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Tune in to WNZR and visit wnzr.fm for more information and prize registration.
Click HERE for more information.
The Fredericktown Tomato Show is all about community, and WNZR recently talked with Tomato Show Board Member Lindsey McGowan about one of the places where that community spirit comes to life—the Hospitality Tent.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link with the picture below.
Lindsey is in her fifth year with the Tomato Show and helps organize volunteers who welcome visitors, answer questions, and sell Tomato Show merchandise. The Hospitality Tent is located on Main Street next to Kokosing Water Park and will be open Wednesday through Friday from 4–10:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2–10:30 p.m. Visitors can stop by for merchandise, enter drawings, and connect with volunteers throughout the festival.
One of Lindsey’s highlights of the week is the Plate Auction, featuring 10 unique plates with all proceeds benefiting the Chris Fearn Well Scholarship Fund. For Lindsey, the auction is another example of how the Tomato Show brings people together to support one another. WNZR will also be right in the middle of the action! We’ll be LIVE and “On the Road with Big Blue” throughout the Fredericktown Tomato Show, bringing you highlights, events, results, and the excitement of the festival. Tune in to WNZR and visit wnzr.fm to learn more and register for prizes!
Click HERE for more information.
The Fredericktown Tomato Show is gearing up for another celebration of community, gardening and good food. WNZR got to talk with Bernie Douglas, who once again helping make it happen.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click the picture link below!
Now in his 19th year with the show, Douglas oversees the tomato products, tomato classes, baked goods and canned goods exhibits. From ketchup, salsa and tomato pie to more than 40 categories of baked goods, the show offers plenty of opportunities for area residents to showcase their talents and creativity. Vegetable growers can also enter exhibits featuring just about anything from their gardens—including a category for the “most unusual garden vegetable or plant.”
Douglas says one of his favorite parts of the Tomato Show is the opportunity to reconnect with people he doesn’t often see, describing the event as one big community reunion. He also shares his appreciation for the canned goods exhibit, which brings back memories of preserving food with his grandparents. Entries can be brought in Wednesday, September 9, from 2–6 p.m., with judging beginning after the opening ceremonies. Visitors can find the exhibits and Douglas at the vegetable tent near the corner of Main and College Streets by the splash pad, and he encourages everyone to come out, have fun and enjoy everything the Fredericktown Tomato Show has to offer.’
Click HERE for more info on the Fredericktown Tomato Show!
Get ready for one of the most unique events at the 2026 Fredericktown Tomato Show—the Bathtub Races! WNZR recently talked with Fredericktown Tomato Show Board Member Mike Smith, who has been involved with the event for more than 20 years.
Click HERE to hear the entire conversation or click on the link with the picture below.
Teams take cast-iron bathtubs, revamp them, add wheels, fill them with water and ice, and then race down the course with one person riding in the tub while another pushes. This year’s classes include a Church Challenge, First Responders, School Organizations, and Businesses, with teams competing for prizes and the rotating championship plaque.
The Bathtub Races take place Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on the north end of Main Street, with registration beginning at 5 p.m. Participants will need to sign a waiver and present a driver’s license; those under 18 will need a parent’s signature. First place in each class wins $90, second place wins $60, and the fastest overall time earns an additional $60. Mike says the race is harder than it looks, but it’s all part of the fun—and for him, this year’s theme of community and fellowship is what makes the Tomato Show so special. Come cheer on the racers and enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship of the Fredericktown Tomato Show!
Be sure to stay connected with WNZR for complete coverage of the 2026 Fredericktown Tomato Show! We’ll be LIVE and “On the Road with Big Blue” throughout the week, highlighting the exciting events, sharing results, and bringing you the fun from the festival. Visit wnzr.fm to learn more and register for your chance to win great prizes!
WNZR recently talked with Fredericktown Tomato Show Board Member Carrie Levering about the flower, horticulture, and photography shows happening during this year’s Tomato Show.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link with the picture below.
If you enjoy flowers or gardening, bring your entries to the Thrall Masonic Lodge on Wednesday, September 9, from 2–6 p.m. There are a variety of flower and horticulture classes, with judging beginning at 6:15 p.m. Entries and winners will be available to view later that evening and remain on display through Saturday at 6 p.m., with flower pickup beginning at 4 p.m.
Photography enthusiasts of all ages are invited to participate, too! Photos can be submitted Wednesday, September 9, from 2–6 p.m. at the Mayor’s Office. There are categories for kids, teens, and adults, along with special awards for Best Use of Color and Best Use of Light. Carrie says you don’t have to be a professional—just bring your photos and join in the fun! For her, one of the best parts of the show is seeing the creativity and talent the community brings. She hopes this year’s theme will shine through in the flowers and photographs and encourages everyone to be part of this special Fredericktown tradition.
Be sure to stay connected with WNZR for complete coverage of the 2026 Fredericktown Tomato Show! We’ll be LIVE and “On the Road with Big Blue” throughout the week, highlighting the exciting events, sharing results, and bringing you the fun from the festival. Visit wnzr.fm to learn more and register for your chance to win great prizes!
