The City of Mebane is excited to host the inaugural Hook & Line–Thompson Music & Arts Heritage Festival! All events on Saturday will be at the Mebane Community Park!

Local and touring musicians will perform at the Fiddler Stage, beginning at 12:30 pm, with continuous performances starting at 2:00 pm.

Opening ceremonies, statue dedication, and music performances are FREE for all to enjoy! Bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy the afternoon in the park comfortably!

The Country Soul Food Cookdown will require a $5 entry fee to participate. Please see below for details.

Be a part of preserving history and stop by the History Harvest in honor of Odell and Joe Thompson from 12:00 to 4:00 pm! See details below.  

• ALL FOOD MUST BE HOMEMADE!
• Entry fee is $5.
• Participants will submit their dish no later than 1:45 pm to the receiving table.
• Judging begins at 2:00 pm.
• Dishes will be judged by blind tasting.
• Winners will be announced between music performances.
• Food cannot be sold and will not be available for public consumption.
• Categories are:
  • Ribs
  • Macaroni & Cheese
  • Greens
  • Cornbread
• CASH PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY!

Join us at the Hook & Line Festival for a History Harvest in honor of Joe & Odell Thompson! We’re celebrating African American history, music, and community stories, and we need your help to preserve them!  

Bring items that tell the story of our shared history, such as: 

• Photos or scrapbooks 
• Songbooks or handwritten lyrics 
• Concert flyers or brochures  
• Small instruments 
• Newspaper clippings or church programs 
• Tickets from local performances 

We will carefully digitize your items on-site, and you’ll keep the originals. The digital versions will be added to a public archive, featured on our website and the NC Digital platform, so these memories can live on for generations. 

Help us celebrate and share the history of art and music in our community!