Fulton Banana Festival

In the days before refrigeration, railway cars full of bananas were a regular sight in the Twin Cities of Fulton, Kentucky, and South Fulton, Tennessee. Last week, the towns held their 63rd annual Banana Festival – a celebration of the towns’ history as a former key stop for the country’s fruit imports.

Western Kentucky and Tennessee residents went bananas again last week.

The two towns of Fulton and South Fulton along the Kentucky-Tennessee border are capping off their 60th annual Banana Festival with its famous “one ton banana pudding” this weekend. But the communities’ love affair with the fruit wouldn’t be possible without the railroad industry, connecting the rural towns to markets across the globe.

It’s been 50 years since Fulton, Kentucky hosted the first banana festival. This year festival organizers are preparing for what they hope will bring…