The 39th High on the Hog Barbecue Festival gets underway Saturday with a large feather in its cap.

It has been honored as a top tourist destination, recognized as a top food event/festival by the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association and received the Experience Tennessee Regional Tourism Award.

Chris Wiseman, Franklin County Kiwanis Club president, summed up what the honor means.

“This is the No. 1 festival in the district,” he said, referring to the SCTTA’s operational scope that includes Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry and Wayne counties. “It’s a huge honor for us and shows that we’re No. 1 in the region.”

Dan Peery, a SCTTA ambassador, a title he shares with his wife, Mary, echoed Wiseman’s assessment about being selected for top billing in a 13-county area.

“This shows that they are one of the most up-andcoming festivals around,” he said, referring to High on the Hog.

He added that it’s a huge accomplishment, considering Tennessee has more than 900 festivals in the works this year.

High on the Hog runs from Saturday through May 17 The festival’s theme this year coincides with the nation’s quartermillennial anniversary and is appropriately titled “250 Years of America,” serving as a kicker or side element to major celebrations around the Fourth of July.

The festival is a premier Kansas City Barbeque Society contest located on the shores of Tims Ford Lake at 1561 Phillip Fulmer Parkway in Winchester.

The Franklin County Kiwanis Club has been the event’s organizer for the last 23 years, leading the stellar attraction as it continues to grow annually.

For further information about the festival, a special High on the Hog section is included in today’s edition with highlights about what the big event has to offer.