Noodling list part of festival planning

May 1—By Barry Porterfield

One by one a long checklist is getting the full attention of committee members planning each and every aspect of a noodling festival coming this summer in Pauls Valley.

Some are kind of tasty as lining up more food trucks is a priority as the volunteer group continues its work to prepare for the Okie Noodling Tournament on June 14-15.

Also high on the planning menu is fundraising from sponsors willing to offer support and add to the city money already available for the single biggest tourism event in Pauls Valley.

Becky Ledbetter is taking time away from her job at Pauls Valley National Bank to direct the detailed planning for the festival, something she's done the past few years as the city's former tourism director.

"We've got to raise as much sponsor money as possible," Ledbetter said, adding some city funding has been budgeted for the event and a request for tourism help is likely.

"That's why we've got to make sure the hotels are full for this, that the event is giving back to the community."

Committee members are also still on the lookout for more food trucks, while there are already a number of merchandise vendors signed up to be at the June festival.

"We've got to be able to feed the people that come," said Jennifer Samford, who adds in the past some of those trucks have been very popular at the noodling event.

"There's always a long line at that truck," Samford said about a catfish food truck.

Pizza and barbecue trucks, along with rolling cafes with burgers, have also gotten plenty of attention at past noodling festivals.

The group is also lining up a series of inflatable rides to go with activities like a noodling demonstration tank, kids catfish eating contest, watermelon crawl and men's wet T-shirt and noodling queen contests.

Then there's a main draw for the festival — the noodlers bringing in the large catfish, some so big they're in the 50- and 60-pound range.

Nancy Runge of the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce said registrations from the noodlers have started out slow but should pick up very soon.

"We've received none so far," Runge said about the sign-ups.

"Everybody should know about it. We've talked to several of them on the phone. We should be getting some soon."

At this stage there has been no information released about the bands expected to play on both Friday and Saturday nights of the festival.