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A Tradition Two Centuries Strong, Finally Told Right

After years of digging through history, interviewing past champions and even tracking down stories of legendary chickens, Charles Peters has finally done it — he’s written the definitive book on one of East Tennessee’s most beloved and unique traditions: the Peters Hollow Egg Fight.

Held every Easter Sunday since 1823 — with only two missed years due to COVID — this legendary egg-cracking contest in Peters Hollow has captured the hearts of locals for generations. Now, in its 202nd year, Peters has released a book that not only preserves the tradition but brings it to life like never before.

“The Peters Hollow Egg Fight: Cracking Through Time” is more than just a history — it’s a celebration. The book is packed with more than 200 historic photos of egg fights past, along with firsthand interviews with former champions, stories of eggs that cracked up to 800 other eggs with just one shell, and accounts of children who fought eggs in the 1950s remembering the tradition being passed down from relatives who fought during the Civil War era.

The objective of the fight has always been simple: crack both ends of your opponent’s egg before they crack yours. But as Peters explains, the rules have evolved over time. Through careful research and oral history, he’s pieced together how the competition has changed, from informal family gatherings to an event that’s drawn state officials, mayors and curious visitors from all over.

There’s even a whole chapter on famous chickens that laid eggs so tough, they became local legends.

Where to get the book:
Available this Easter Sunday, April 29, at the Peters Hollow Egg Fight for a special event price of $15.

Regular price: $20

Also available locally at the Eagles Center in downtown Elizabethton, Nancy’s Restaurant in Valley Forge and The Village in West End.

Whether you’re a lifelong egg fighter or just learning about this quirky Appalachian tradition, Charles Peters’ new book is a must-have keepsake and tribute to one of the most egg-citing traditions in the South.

Come out, grab a book and crack into history this Easter Sunday in Peters Hollow!