At first glance it might seem like a stretch of the imagination, but all you have to do is drop into Paris, Tennessee, in the early spring to know that this annual festival lives up to its proclaimed title.

To begin with, Paris, Tennessee, welcomes visitors to the city with a huge sign and a sculpted catfish — a declaration that fishing and the prospect of Cajun catfish or any kind of catfish fillets are big business here.

Yes, it is about the fishing. And the people who fish. And the people who have businesses that either supply the fisher-folk. And it is about everyone who simply wants to have a good time. Paris, a West Tennessee country community at the edge of Land Between the Lakes, has created an increasingly complex and continually growing festival to supply some very simple down-home fun. It’s fairly obvious that the entire community is behind this event… eagerly awaiting the fairs, the parades, and the infamous “catfish races.”

So where did it all begin?

“Mule Day.” That was a 1938 event sponsored by the Post Intelligencer, the city’s daily newspaper. “Mule Day” picked up on a tradition where farmers came to town on the first day of April to trade mules and farm products, shop, and enjoy a social reunion with friends and neighbors.

Some fifteen years later, with tractors gradually replacing mules in this rural community, the Chamber of Commerce stepped up to the plate, searching for a new venue to replace what was becoming an out-of-date event.

Thus, in 1953, the Chamber sponsored the first Fish Fry., with less than stellar results. The fish fried were not culled from Kentucky Lake, and failed to please the palates of the locals.  The parade fell short as well.  This original iteration was held on a single day at Barton Field.

The event survived, though, and through the 1950′s began to grow. In the Camelot days of 1961, the Paris-Henry County Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) took over the event,and the “World’s Biggest Fish fry” was born.  In those early days the “fry” consumed 1600 pounds of fish, an amount that pales in comparison to today’s five tons of deep fried catfish. Yes, FIVE TONS. Cooked and dished up at the “Bobby” Cox Memorial Fish tent.

Another batch of Hush Puppies...keep 'em coming!

Community and business involvement in “World’s Biggest Fish Fry” brings the community together through many events: beauty pageants, parades, a country fair, tractor pulls, dances, a carnival, Catfish races, and the fish fry itself.

With the 2009 edition of the World’s Biggest Fish Fry just weeks away,  the Jaycees expect to continue the trend of “bigger and better’ every year. The fair has exploded from its “one day” origin to a full week of festivities, and some winter events like the beauty contests that feed into the final “Fish Fry” product.

Meanwhile, the Paris-Henry County community is waiting for more of that southern catfish and some flavorful hush puppies on the side. Me? Well, even though I am a newcomer, I hope to be wrangling a catfish in the races on a Saturday morning in April.

This year’s Fish Fry runs from April 20-27. For more information, visit the website: World’s Biggest Fish Fry.