Published by Carl. Last Updated on September 20, 2024.
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The Mush Music and Mutts Festival in Shelby, NC, centered around the famous North Carolina dish, Livermush. It's expanded to include lots of pet-friendly events and live music, and now is one of the best NC events during fall. This guide shares how you can enjoy it, too!
If you’re looking for an event that combines quirky local cuisine, live music, and a pet-friendly atmosphere, look no further than the Mush, Music & Mutts Festival in Shelby, North Carolina!
The festival takes place every October, and what began as a small gathering of just a few hundred attendees in 1985 has grown to become a massive event that draws thousands of people from across the state.
It’s all centered around the iconic North Carolina dish: Livermush.
The family- and pet-friendly event features a variety of vendors, food trucks, a livermush eating contest, livermush cook-offs, live bluegrass music, and more.
We’ve eaten our way through this festival, and it’s become one of our favorite events during NC in the fall!
Below is a breakdown of events and some background on how this festival came to be. Here’s what you can expect:
- What is Livermush?
- Mush, Music, & Mutts Event Info
- How to Enjoy the Festival (Based on Our Experiences)
- List of Events
- More Things To Do in Shelby, NC (Travel Guides + Area Info)
You can skip ahead to any section or keep reading about the origin and definition of livermush!
Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do In North Carolina (Your NC Bucket List)
What is Livermush?
Livermush is a traditional Southern dish made primarily from pig liver, cornmeal, and spiced with pepper and sage.
The dish is thought to have originated from scrapple, an Appalachian dish still found in parts of Pennsylvania, which consists of all the leftover pork scraps after butchering the pig (usually parts of the head/snout/heart/trimmings).
Like scrapple, livermush is commonly known to include “everything but the squeal.” However, these two are very different.
Instead of leftover scraps, livermush is primarily made of pork liver and other organ meat. Other scraps may be used occasionally, but North Carolina Law states that for the dish to be sold as livermush, it must contain at least 30 percent liver.
The dish was extremely popular during the Great Depression as a highly affordable food source. At that time, a brick-sized loaf cost less than $2!
The mixture is formed into a loaf, sliced, and typically pan-fried or grilled before being served as a breakfast item in sandwiches or alongside eggs and grits.
Read More: Western North Carolina (and 100+ Wonderful Places to Visit)
What is the Mush Music and Mutts Festival?
2024 Event Date: October 19, 2024
Address: 118 S Washington Street, Shelby, NC
Official Website
Mush, Music & Mutts is held annually in Uptown Shelby, NC. The town is about one hour from Charlotte and an hour and a half from Asheville, putting it in a sweet spot between two awesome cities!
Although it has been a two-day event in the past, it will only last one day this year, on October 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The festival is free to attend, but you should plan to bring some money for food and souvenirs.
The festival has three themes, which you can probably gather from the name:
- Livermush: As the largest Livermush festival in the country, it’s been recognized by multiple national outlets, including Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
- Live Music: Throughout the day, tons of local bluegrass artists will perform on stage, headlined by Darin and Brooke Aldridge.
- Mutts: The third major theme is pets. There are pet costume contests, local pet supply vendors, and dog shows with talented puppies from around the state showing off their tricks.
Over 90 vendors will also be present, selling food, drinks, handmade goods, artisan jewelry, clothing, and more!
Read More: Breakfast in NC (+ the Best Places to Eat!)
Parking
Free parking is available around Uptown Shelby. Be sure to follow the signs, and don’t park in local business parking lots. If signs state parking is for their guests only, you will likely get towed.
Where to Stay Nearby
If you’re wondering where to stay in Shelby, we’ve personally stayed at the Broad River Campground and think it’s a fantastic hidden gem! The campground has brand-new cabins, glamping domes with hot tubs, and traditional RV and tent sites.
Another great option is Morgan and Wells Bed & Breakfast, which is a super cozy B&B right next to downtown Shelby.
Find More Places to Stay in Shelby
How to Enjoy the Mush Music and Mutts Festival (Based on Our Experiences)
Based on our experience at the Mush, Music, and Mutts Festival, here’s a breakdown of how you can enjoy it, too!
- Festival Starting Time: The festival starts at 9:00 a.m., and unless you get there shortly after it begins, there will be a big line for Livermush (so it must be good, right?).
- Where to Buy Livermush (Mack’s): The most famous place to get livermush is called Mack’s Livermush. This company started the festival in 1985 and is still a prevalent producer of livermush across North Carolina.
- I remember waiting about 15-20 minutes, and the line stayed that long throughout the day!
- Livermush Eating Contest and Recipe Cook-Off: After you sample some freshly grilled livermush, you can watch (or even take part in) livermush eating contests and even check out a livermush recipe cook-off featuring local chefs competing for $500!
- Non-Livermush Food: Don’t like livermush? That’s okay! Many other food options are available from local restaurants and food trucks, from smoked brisket to chicken, hamburgers, and North Carolina barbecue.
- Bring Your Pets: As the name indicates, this festival is a great place to hear live music and bring your pets. Almost everyone at the festival brings their dogs, and there are quite a few themed events around the “Mutts” portion of the festival.
- RollOver Pets is a featured partner who helps organize a pet parade, costume contest, K9 demonstrations, and musical sit contest.
- Music: In addition to the main events, festival-goers can enjoy live music performances throughout the day. This year’s headliner is Darin & Brooke Aldridge, a decorated bluegrass band that’s been at the top of the Billboard Charts for the past few years!
- If you’ll be watching any of the stage shows, make sure to bring a lawn chair, as there is no seating available.
- Kids Zone: There’s also a small dedicated Kids Zone, where families can find games and activities for their little ones. The Poetry Fox will be crafting custom poems throughout the day, and Ross the Balloon Guy will provide complimentary balloon art.
Read More: The Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby (Tribute to a Legend)
List of Mush Music & Mutts Festival Events
Here’s a quick list of everything to do at The Mush, Music, and Mutts Festival!
- Livermush Eating Contest: Test your endurance with this quirky eating challenge (held multiple times throughout the day).
- Livermush Recipe Contest & Cook-off: Watch local chefs compete to create the best livermush dishes.
- 90+ Craft, Food, and Beverage Vendors
- Live Music: Enjoy performances by local bands and musicians throughout the day on two stages, headlined by Darin & Brooke Aldridge
- Pet Costume Contest & Parade
- K9 Demonstrations & Trick Shows
- Musical Sit Contest: A fun game for pets to see which one can sit the longest to music.
- Kids Zone: A dedicated area for children featuring games, Poetry Fox-crafted poems, balloon art, and more
- Lawn Games (Cornhole, Lawn Darts, Etc.)
More Things To Do in Shelby, NC
The Mush, Music & Mutts Festival perfectly blends Southern charm, community spirit, and unique culinary experiences.
It’s one of the best things to do during October in Shelby, but it’s certainly not the only reason to visit the town.
Shelby has a ton of cool places to see, like the Earl Scruggs Center and a few of the best restaurants in Western NC, including some famous barbecue joints!
Whether you love livermush or are just looking for a fun day out with the family (and your pets), be sure to mark your calendar, and don’t be afraid to make a whole weekend out of it so that you can fully experience Shelby, NC.
If you’re looking for more reasons to visit this awesome place, we’ve created a whole series of Western NC travel guides, with some examples dedicated to Shelby and its surroundings. Here are a few of them.
