7 things to know about the upcoming Liver Mush Festival in Shelby

Billy and Kim Brooks get ready to eat their liver mush sandwiches during the Liver Mush Festival in 2022. This year's festival in Shelby is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18. (USA Today via Reuters)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

October 15, 2025

Music, eating competitions, and more: Here’s what to know about this weekend’s Liver Mush Festival in Shelby.

Each fall, thousands of locals and visitors are drawn to uptown Shelby for the annual Mush, Music and Mutts Liver Mush Festival.

This year, the 40th pork-centered celebration will be held Oct. 18 in uptown Shelby.

Where to find these 8 viral foods in North Carolina

Here’s seven things to know before you go:

Where?

The Mutts, Music and Mush Festival will be held in uptown Shelby on Washington Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fun for Kids + Pets

RollOver Pets Pet Festival will feature fun throughout the day for both fur-children and their humans with paw painting, live performances by Dynamo Dogs, a costume contest, a pet and owner look-alike competition and more.

For the human children, there will be a Land of Rhythm Kid Zone with pumpkin painting, the Poetry Fox, Ross the Balloon Guy and Dover Foundation YMCA Fun Zone.

Music

There will be a mix of local and non-local music performed by 10 bands on three stages: the Main Stage by Albemarle, Carolina Harmony Trail Stage, sponsored by the city of Shelby and Sofidel, and new for this year, Mack’s Back Porch side stage.

On the Main Stage by Albemarle: Cassie & Maggie | 10 to 11 a.m.South for Winter | 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Amanda Cook Band | 1to 2 p.m.Songs From The Road Band, presented by Walker Woodworking | 2:30 to 4 p.m.

On the Carolina Harmony Trail Stage by Sofidel:Foxhound Stringband | 9:15 to 10 a.m.

The Hillclimbers | 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.Colin & Kathleen Ray | 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Finkelstein Three | 1 to 2 p.m.

On Mack’s Back Porch Side Stage:Red Crayon Music | 9 to 10 a.m.Vintage Vibe | 11 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Vendors

This year there will be more than 130 small business, artisan and non-profit vendors at the festival, including more than 30 food and beverage vendors.

Liver Mush contests

The annual liver mush eating contest, which will feature seven time champion Michael Ellis, will have four competitive heats at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 12:50 p.m..

Competitors have nine minutes to chow down on bricks of liver mush with the winner taking home $150 and bragging rights.

The Liver Mush Recipe Contest and Livestream Cook-off will be held at Greenbrook Design with hosts Jan Blanton and Johnny Ray of Johnny Ray’s Smokehouse. The competition will kick-off at noon, and recipe contestants can win up to $500 and a matching prize to donate to a non-profit of their choice.