Ware Shoals plays host to over 20,000 visitors each year to enjoy the large catfish feast during Memorial Day weekend at the annual Catfish Feastival. The event began in 1981 to harvest more than a ton of catfish from the shallows during the annual draining of the Riegel Textile Company pool and dam site. In addition to the catfish feast, the “feastival” also hosts a carnival, booths for arts and crafts, and the streets are roped off at night for dancing.