Saturday’s Banana Pudding Festival saw a good crowd turn out on a beautiful day to sample puddings and peruse vendors at the event. There was, of course, plenty of banana pudding to try out. Other vendors sold different sweets and treats. There were toys, handmade crafts, leather goods, team gear, and jewelry to pick from. It was all well supported by the community, with approximately a thousand people showing up for the all-day event. More than one vendor sold completely out of their stock.

No such treatment, however, by the city. This will be Tullahoma’s first and last Banana Pudding Festival. Organizer Brianna Hale, who has organized festivals in several middle Tennessee cities, says she has never been treated so rudely by any other city’s staff than she was by two members of this city’s staff.

She said that she had to go to city hall three times before she could obtain her permit. Hale had secured a petting zoo and a foam party to participate in the event as something fun for the children to do. Both businesses have permits and insurance for their business, and both have held previous events in Tullahoma.

However, just two days before the event, Hale days she received a call from a city employee telling her that those two businesses would not be allowed to participate. She tells that she was warned that if they did show up, she would be “significantly fined.” Hale describes her treatment by the city as “very hateful,” and said she will not be holding any other events here.

Despite the described sour notes, the festival itself turned out to be successful for the vendors, and enjoyable for the public.