As I mentioned previously, I was enticed up to the Panhandle this weekend by an intriguing event. The Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin Festival is so unusual, I’m pretty certain it’s the only one in the world.

What exactly is worm gruntin? Well, it’s a technique used to harvest worms. Grunters pound a wooden stake “stob” into the ground, then rub a metal bar “iron” across the top. This motion produces a vibration that worms mistake for the tunneling action of moles. In order to escape these voracious predators, the worms head for the surface where they are gathered by the grunters to be sold as bait. So, sadly for the worms, they end up getting eaten anyway.

I’ve heard they grunt for worms in other nearby states but the little town of Sopchoppy has elevated it into an annual extravaganza. The morning starts with a worm wriggle fun run, followed by a gruntin demo by local grunt masters, a kids’ gruntin contest, and even a worm eating contest (gummy ones, thankfully). There’s live music all day with arts and crafts vendors scattered up and down the streets. The night ends with a Worm Ball (sadly, I missed that part).

I captured a few gruntin snippets for your viewing pleasure. If you’d like more information I found this news story that is worth a watch. If you’re ever in the Panhandle during the second weekend of April, swing by Sopchoppy for an unforgettable small town experience.