Have you ever heard of the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival? Yes, it’s a real event that takes place in rural Florida’s Sopchoppy. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a festival dedicated to worm gruntin’!
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We stumbled upon this quirky festival while scrolling through Facebook, drawn in by the tophat-wearing, lipsticked worm logo. After realizing we would be in the area during the festival, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to check it out. And that’s pretty much the extent of our travel planning!
Sopchoppy is located on the eastern edge of the Apalachicola National Forest, just south of Tallahassee along the Sopchoppy River. The town has a rich history dating back to 1894 when the railroad first came through the area. Although it wasn’t officially chartered until 1905, Sopchoppy has been a hub for both saltwater and freshwater fishing for many years.
But back to the worms! Worm gruntin’ is a traditional method of gathering earthworms for fishing bait. The process involves using a wooden stake to create vibrations in the ground, causing the worms to surface. The Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival celebrates this unique practice with a variety of activities, including a worm gruntin’ contest, live music, and plenty of food and drink.
Worm gruntin’ is a technique used to gather earthworms for fishing bait. It involves driving a wooden stake called a “stob” into the ground and using a “rooping iron,” typically made from an old car leaf spring or saw blades, to rub the stob and create vibrations in the soil. The vibrations cause the worms to think they’re under attack from moles and wiggle their way to the surface, making them easy to catch.
According to the pros, it’s best to start gruntin’ early in the day before the sun gets too hot and drives the worms deeper underground.
Sopchoppy, Florida is known as the “Worm Gruntin’ Capital” of the world and hosts an annual Worm Gruntin’ Festival that’s been taking place since the 1950s. The festival features a Worm Gruntin’ Rodeo, Worm Gruntin’ Fair, and various games and prizes. It’s held on the second Saturday of April in the historic downtown area.
We ran into Audrey and Gary Revelle at the 2023 Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival. Watch as they tell us all about their family history of worm charming.
Sopchoppy Facts:
- It bills itself as the “Worm Gruntin’ Capital” of the world.
- Worm gruntin’ is also known as worm charming.
- The Annual Worm Gruntin’ Festival takes place on the second Saturday in April on the streets of historic downtown Sopchoppy.
- Part of Tim Dorsey’s 2017 novel Clownfish Blues is set in Sopchoppy and worm grunting is a plot element.
- The town’s name is a corruption of “Lockchoppe”, derived from the Muskogee lokchapi, which was the old name of the nearby river.
