The town of Loachapoka will be welcoming approximately 20,000 people, Oct. 18, for the 43 annual Syrup Sopping and Lee County Historical Society Fair.
With a permanent population under 200 people, there will be more than a 99 percent increase in visitors from around the Southeast. There were even visitors from Hawaii and Alaska in 2010, according to the Syrup Sopping's website.
Loachapoka, a name meaning "turtle sitting place" in Native American Muscogee Creek language, was a busy trading location in the 1800s. As Auburn and Opelika saw an increase in their population, the regional economic importance of Loachaoka fell.
Loachapoka turned to agriculture, part of which was Alabamian sorghum and cane sugar. The climate was too cold for the sugar to be sold commercially, but the weather did permit locals to grow enough of the crop to make home-made syrup.
Little has changed since the Syrup Sop began, says Mathan Holt, one of two organizers that have seen the Syrup Sop grow first hand from what it was 43 years ago.
"Most of the people that have worked at the Syrup Sop and promoted the Syrup Sop and all the people that go into putting it together has changed since the start," Holt said. "Basically everything else is about the same."
The Ruritan Club and Ladies Improvement Club of Loachapoka held the first Syrup Sop in 1972 to honor that syrupy history. Both clubs are still major contributors today and use the profits from the event to preserve local history.
The event has evolved into one of two major events held in the small town. This year there is bluegrass music and biscuits and sausage served by Hardee's.
Across the street, a separate event is hosted by the Lee County Historical Society. That fair will host people practicing traditional trades like blacksmiths, potters and soap makers.
"Most folks have never seen anything like this," Holt said. "I can almost guarantee you, unless you grew up on a farm where your parents or grandparents did something like this, you're going to see a lot of things you've never seen before."
Holt encourages students to come out and experience something new in Loachapoka.
"For some people it's intriguing, some people aren't interested in it," Holt said. "But it's very, very educational."
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