West Jefferson Ox Roast

I’m not a fan of roasting whole animals on a spit over a fire, but if you dig a big hole, fill it with coals and roast the heck out of 6,000 pounds of meat, I can handle it a little better. That’s exactly what they have been doing at the annual Labor Day West Jefferson Ox Roast for fifty years.
The festival actually begins 24 hours before Labor Day…
On Sunday heavy equipment is brought in to dig what is essentially a fire pit– 140 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep. The hole is piled with wood and at 9 PM the fire is officially lit. Thirty tons of wood are on hand to allow the fire to be tended throughout the night… making 2-​feet of fiery coals.
They may not exactly cook up a whole ox, but 6,000 pounds of Round Roast (seasoned with «Rudy’s Secret Recipe») is no laughing matter! The roasts are prepared in the high school cafeteria, wrapped in foil and hauled (literally) to the Pit Area in the park.
Once the coals are ready, they are topped with a thin layer of sand the the roasts are placed in the pit, which is then covered with metal sheeting and another layer of sand. (Much akin to the manner in which a proper clambake is done).
The local fire department sounds its horn at the crack of dawn to let everyone know the meat’s on and by mid-​afternoon festival volunteers are serving up the signature roast sandwiches.
Throughout the day, you’ll be kept busy with a variety of entertainment, contests, crafts, activities and what would a festival be without a parade and a Queen… the Roast Queen to be exact.
It’s a smalltown festival, but has a unique twist. The West Jeff Ox Roast is worth going to if you are looking for something low-​key, «Americana» to do on Labor Day.