On the first Saturday of every August thousands of people gather in the little town of Fancy Farm, Kentucky. Held on the grounds of the historic St. Jerome Catholic Church, the annual Fancy Farm Picnic is a somewhat bizarre event that combines elements of: a county fair, a bipartisan political rally, and a neighborhood barbecue.

In spite of missing an exact start date, the event dates back before the Civil War (at least the 1840’s). The event claims to hold the record for the “World’s Largest Picnic,” on account of the 15,000 pounds of meat cooked that year.

The political speeches are a highlight of the picnic. Many political officials and many political hopefuls attend with equal chances to voice opinions, critiques and jokes during the political exchanges under the heat of the summer afternoon.