Butter Beans and cornbread are a quintessential Southern tradition, so with that in mind, back in 2006 members of the Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center decided to organize the first Alabama Butter Bean Festival. The Butter Bean Festival united the Alabama communities of Pinson and Palmerdale to raise funds to make the old Palmerdale School into a Community Center.

This is not a trick question! Did you know that California grows the most Butter Beans in the country? Even more than Alabama! Always happy to share, the California Large Lima Bean Council has been a proud sponsor and provider of Butter Beans for the festival since the beginning. This year is no exception; we’ll be sending our annual shipment of approximately 1,200 pounds for attendees to enjoy this October.

With family fun for all, the festival has something for everyone. Besides booths selling delicious Butter Bean dishes such as Southern Style butter beans, cookies and even a Butter Bean cobbler, there is live music, a car show, carnival rides, 5K race, 150 arts and crafts vendors, a Mr. & Mrs. Butter Bean and a fireworks show. You can even check out the pot that crowned the festival with a Guinness Book of World Records largest pot of baked beans at 1,010.65 gallons! The festival runs from Friday, September 30th, from 6 pm to 10 pm and Saturday October 1st starting at 9 am and ending at 4 pm. Fireworks are on Friday night and the 5K run is Saturday morning. Located in the small town of Pinson, Alabama just northeast of Birmingham you will find a friendly place with southern hospitality.

Did you know? Five Fun Facts!

  1. Butter Beans and Large Lima beans are the same thing. Butter Bean is a nickname used mainly in the Southern United States because of the buttery flavor and creamy texture of the bean.
  2. Other names for Large Lima beans are Rangoon bean, Burma bean, Madagascar bean and Chad bean.
  3. Large Lima beans have been cultivated in Peru since 6000 B.C., and the common name of the bean comes from Lima, Peru’s capital city.
  4. Lima beans are a legume.
  5. Lima beans contain folate, thiamin (B1), vitamin B6, fiber, manganese, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and antioxidants.

Be sure to try out one of these delicious Butter Bean recipes from our CalBeans.org website!

Butter Beans and Cheese

Sausage and Bean Dutch Oven Stew

Southern Style Butter Beans

Ellery Lima Beans

Breakfast Sausage

Check out this YouTube video of the festival from 2014! Members of our Cal Beans team had a great time!