It’s almost time for the Fireman’s Carnival, the famous Fireman’s Relish, rides and fireworks too

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, our publisher Mike McCool stopped by the Front Royal Fire Department when he heard that the “secret” and famous Fireman’s Relish was being made. He was tipped off by Hoss Feldhauser, a Front Royal Fire Department life member, who just loves the relish.

One of the major draws to the carnival is their famous fireman’s relish. Be sure to come down early and get you a pint of relish as they may run out towards the end of the carnival. It might be best to get an extra pint, so you can help out a friend that misses out! The mustard-based relish is a recipe handed down over many years and has become very popular. Three members of their department, Hugh Williams, Skillet Henry, and Gary Keyser, receive credit for the origin of this delicious condiment.

Watch as he speaks with Larry Oliver, Fire Chief at the Front Royal Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, and tries to get that recipe.

The annual Fireman’s Carnival and Parade begins Thursday, July 8th, and goes through Saturday, July 17, 2021.  The Fireman’s Parade will be Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Watch for more details as the time approaches. Visit their website or Facebook page . Details will be posted soon.

Update: One of our subscribers, Prudence Mathews, begs to differ with Hoss Feldhouser’s memory of the recipe. The original recipe came from Mr. Hugh Reid. We referred to him as “Mr. Hugh”. In the early ’60s, my husband Billy Mathews and Gary Keyser made the Relish every day of the Carnival, in our kitchen, using a hand grinder for the cabbage and onions. Billy took his vacation that week for years. After several years, when the Carnival was located on the playground of E Wilson Morrison school, Billy would make it himself in the cook tent there every day. It was hot as hades under that tent. My daughter, Lauren, still makes the original recipe and I imagine Kathy does too.