Georgia Peach Festival celebrates 40 years of ‘Being Peachy!’

The Georgia Peach Festival featured numerous events throughout both Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, as a way to honor local peach growers for their contributions to the state economy and showcase the City of Fort Valley. 

Both days saw festival goers strolling down Church Street, browsing the many vendors lining both sides of the road. There were a variety of vendors, with some selling homemade crafts like wooden birdhouses and handmade soaps. The Friday Evening Kickoff Party started with AJ the DJ and LadiT.

The Peach Festival continued bright and early on Saturday morning, starting with the  “Fill the Boots for Burns” Pancake Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. which took place at the Fire Department Fire House at 204 West Church Street. 

The Peachy Parade started at 10 a.m. and featured the Fort Valley City Council, the Fort Valley Police Department, the Fort Valley Fire Department, the Fort Valley Utility Commission, the Georgia Peach Queens, Lane Orchards, Dickey Farms, Pearson Farms, the NoD Percussion, and more. 

This year’s Parade Marshals were Duke Lane of Lane Orchards, Al Pearson of Pearson Farms, and Robert Dickey of Dickey Farms. All three marshals were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the peach industry.

“These distinguished peach growers represent generations of dedication, hard work, and commitment to an industry that has helped make Georgia peaches recognized and celebrated across the nation,” the Georgia Peach Festival said in the social media post.

At 11 a.m. the Peach Festival had a multitude of fun events. At the gazebo, the Georgia Peach Queens were formally introduced; Little Miss Georgia Peach, Ellisyn Alyse Boggs of Albany; Tiny Miss Georgia Peach, Ivy James Blalock of Kathleen; Junior Miss Georgia Peach, Lillian Kaiser of Tifton; Teen Miss Georgia Peach, Evelyn Susannah McCoy of Baxley; Miss Georgia Peach, Haley Raymond of Kathleen.

The Historical Society Chicken Salad Lunch started at 11:00 a.m. as well and took place at the McArthur-Saxon House on 201 South Miller Street. Other events included the ‘Eat A Peach’ Contest, the Big Peach Chair, and the Car and Bike Show.

At noon, the Peachy Keen Pup Perfect Pageant started at the Festival Stage. The categories included Peachy King & Queen Pup (best overall), Peachiest Pooch (best dressed), Fuzziest Peach Pup (best coat), Prim Peach (smallest & sassiest), and Freestone Peach (largest & firmest.

The World’s Largest Peach Cobbler was ready for the festival goers at around 2 p.m. The cobbler measures around 11 by 5 feet and about eight inches deep. The recipe calls for 75 gallons of sliced fresh Georgia peaches, 150 pounds of self-rising flour, 150 pounds of sugar, 32 gallons of milk and 90 pounds of butter. The ingredients are mixed in six clean trash cans with clean boat paddles and the dessert takes a minimum of four hours to bake.

Throughout Saturday, there was live music by artists including Tu Voz Latina, Midnight Cruzer, and Klymaxx. The evening ended with a fireworks show around 9:30 p.m.

The Peach Festival will resume in Byron at North Peach Park next Saturday, June 13, from noon to 8 p.m.

For more information on the Georgia Peach Festival, they can be found on their website or on Facebook. The Peach Festival committee can be contacted at (478) 825-4002, at georgiapeachfestival@gmail.com or through their website’s contact form.