2020 Schedule of Events
The 2020 PurpleHull Pea Festival & World Championship Rotary Tiller Race will begin at 6:00 p.m., June 26 and continue through June 27. Please note a few events will occur prior to the weekend of the actual festival. Here’s the current schedule. Please check back for any updates:
The Blessing of the PurpleHull Pea Crop was Saturday, June 6, at 5:00, at the Emerson School Garden, located just northwest of old Emerson School gymnasium.
The Kids Fishing Derby will be the morning of June 13,, at Mullins Pond, just off U.S. 79, on the north side of Emerson. Registration will be 7:00am fishing will be from 8:00 to 11:00a.m.
Peoples Bank PurpleHull Pea Festival Treasure Hunt begins with the first clue Monday morning, June 22, continuing with a new clue each morning until found. Clues available on KZHE, KVMA, the festival’s Facebook page, and magnoliareporter.com.


There’s lots to see at the PurpleHull Pea Festival – but
undoubtedly the highlight is the Sawblade.com World Championship Rotary Tiller Race.
Friday, June 26, 2020
5:30 to 7:00 Emerson Fire Department fish fry, served at the Emerson Fire Department. Includes fish, fries and hushpuppies. Tickets on sale now for $10.
6:00 p.m. Festival begins with the “Cranking of the Tillers” ceremony, featuring Kallee Harrison singing the National Anthem..
6:30 to 9:15 p.m. Entertainment – Gospel in Cafetorium.
9:15 p.m. Pea-tacular Fireworks Show Begins
Saturday, June 27, 2020



All Day, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Arts & Crafts
Beginning at 8:00 a.m. Festival’s Farmers Market
All Day, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Food vendors
8:00 a.m. Tractor Show check in
8:30 a.m. Cracking of the Tillers and Our National Anthem
9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. PurpleHull Pea Festival Quilt Show of Pea Quilt and Auction at Emerson United Methodist Church, 203 Church St.
9:00 a.m. Tractor Exhibitions begin
9:00 a.m. Great PurpleHull Peas & Cornbread Cook Off. Bring your best PurpleHull Peas and Cornbread dish and earn for yourself a place in PurpleHull cooking history. Have your dish there by 9:00 a.m. Judging begins at 9:30.
9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Silent Auction in Cafetorium Mary’s Cakes
10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The Silver Belles Dancers in Cafetorium
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PurpleHull Pea Meals in Cafetorium
11:00 a.m. Kids Potato Pickup (for kids 12 and under – near tiller track)
11:15 a.m. World Cup PurpleHull Pea Shelling Competition
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. LifeShare Bloodmobile accepting donations.
1:00 p.m. The world renown Million Tiller Parade
3:00 p.m. The Sawblade.com World Championship Rotary Tiller Race.
6:00 p.m. The “Bad Boys Riblet Cook Off” starts serving. Plates are $10.
8:00-11:00 pm The Pea-Stompin’ Street Dance.featuring an old favorite at the festival – the Cummins Prison Band! If you’re an Arkansas tax payer, this is your band. Come out and support them, and enjoy some great music!