Ground Steak Festival

Held annually on the second Saturday in June, the North Carolina Ground Steak Festival celebrates this regional culinary delicacy.

The star of the festival, ground steak, is a loose-meat, melt-in-your mouth cousin to the hamburger. The Depression-era staple was born in diners and burger joints throughout Surry County, allowing cooks to stretch their resources in lean times and feed more diners at an affordable price. The tasty tradition survives nearly a century later, and 16 locations serve the dish along the Ground Steak Trail.

Dobson’s Central Café, which is one location along the trail, serves ground steak sandwiches at the festival, along with the Flat Rock Ruritan Club, which is famous for serving the sandwich every October at the Autumn Leaves Festival in nearby Mount Airy.

The Ground Steak Festival also includes more than 75 artisans and crafters, bluegrass and old-time string music, and children’s games and activities.