Clayton News Daily

Photo by Heather Middleton

Four lucky readers, who participated in the Clayton News Daily's Taste of Clayton contest on Facebook, are the winners of tickets to the event this weekend in historic downtown Jonesboro.

Deborah J. Lazarus and Camille Hoze Sears, each won a Family 4 Prize Pack, which includes 2 adult passes and 2 children's passes, good for admission to this year's Taste of Clayton and Sweet Tea Challenge.

Admission passes also include "Taste" tickets that can be given to vendors, in exchange for food or beverages.

Lisa Batten and Melody Studdard Rabell, each won two adult passes to the event that that features food samples from local restaurants, community and business vendors and entertainment offerings.

The winners were notified via Facebook messaging, on Tuesday, and may pick up their tickets at the Clayton News Daily office anytime before 5 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2011.

The four winners entered the contest by visiting the Clayton News Daily business page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Clayton-News-Daily/168570609852819.

They were selected in a drawing, held on Monday, from the people who entered the contest and clicked that they "Like" our business page on Facebook.

The Taste of Clayton and Sweet Tea Challenge will be held Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m., to 3 p.m. The festive event, in its 18th year, has been moved to Main Street in Jonesboro, which should add charm and atmosphere to the day, as the city gets to show off its new Streetscape upgrades, with improved lighting, classic sidewalks, and more.

The Sweet Tea Challenge and sweet tea drinking contest are new to the event this year. The person who can drink a gallon of tea the fastest, wins. Also, if you think you make the best sweet tea east of the Mississippi, then enter and let the judges decide.

Adult admission is $15, and includes 10 "Taste" tickets. Senior-adult admission (55 and older) is $12, with 7 Taste tickets, and children's admission (10 and under) is $5, with 5 Taste tickets. Additional Taste tickets can be purchased for $1 each.

The event is hosted by the Clayton County Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with Historical Jonesboro/Clayton County, Inc. Call the Clayton County Welcome Center, at (770) 478-4800, to find out where you can buy advanced tickets for the event.

-- The Editors