Is The Banana Capital of the World Really in Kentucky?

"Go bananas! Go, Go, bananas!" That's what the banana mascot cheered along with the Murray marching band when our friend Patty Millay marched in the parade for Fulton, Kentucky's international Banana Festival.

Why is There a Banana Festival in Kentucky?

In 1963, Fulton folks decided to organize the first International Banana Festival.  Because of the city's unique and rather random connection to the tropical fruit.  Inspired by the gigantic fish fry that happens in Paris, KY, planners hoped it would be a grand event with a pageant for Miss Banana Festival, banana parade, and competitions for best banana recipes.

Banana Capital of the World

Believe it or not, the Banana Capital of the World is in Fulton, KY.  Here's the scoop.

"In about 1880 the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad was the first to develop refrigerated cars. Suddenly those not living in tropical regions could have the same fruits year round that others enjoyed. Fulton, at the time, was home to a large railroad facility and became the redistribution point for the railroad because of its central location between New Orleans and Canada. The United Fruit Co, now Chiquita, began shipping bananas from South America by ship to New Orleans. The bananas were loaded onto railcars on top of 162 pound blocks of ice for the trip north."

However, those ice blocks couldn't make it all the way north to Chicago. They had to reload the coolers to keep the bananas from going bad and the only place on the way to do so was the Fulton Ice Plant. According to the Banana Festival website, "At one point, over 70% of the bananas that were consumed in the US passed through Fulton." So, Fulton became known as "The Banana Capital of the World."

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International Banana Festival 2024

The ice plant is no longer open, but the festival lives on! A week long celebration from September 14th-21st and you can literally "go bananas!" With a banana eating contest, car show, kids events, food including banana dishes, of course, live music, vendors, talent shows, and the grand parade featuring the world's largest banana pudding that gets served up to everyone at the festival. Here's the schedule of events if you want to plan a trip!