Paris Holds Annual Fish Fry
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It has been a long time coming for many Henry Countians, school is out and it is more like a big party in the main streets of Paris. “It brings the community together since I was a little girl I’ve been coming to the fish fry,” said Morgan Todd, the hostess princess. It is the last full week of April that the town annually teams up for the World’s Largest Fish Fry, and this year marks the 58th year. As for activities, well you can take your pick. “Definitely have to say the parade or the fish tent, I love catfish,” said Todd. “It takes about 10 thousand pounds, whole lotta white beans and tons of hush puppies,” explained fish tent organizer David Hayes. All year long, people from near and far wait to get a taste of this secret recipe. Hayes oversees this actual fish fry and is one of only three people in the entire county who knows the special ingredients. A secret passed down to him from the former fish tent organizer in 1985. “We don’t want to give our secret away then everybody else will be trying to do it.” Mayor Samuel Tharpe of Paris said over the course of the week more than 100,000 people make a visit to Henry County, and eventually the money adds up. “It opens up an opportunity for people to come and spend time in our community,” explained Mayor Tharpe. “They can come back and enjoy what we enjoy everyday, the way of life.”
