Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, August 11, 2008 21:37
Did you know that peaches are the fourth most popular fruit in the U.S.? That the U.S. is the largest peach producer in the world? That the peach is a member of the rose family? That there is a National Peach Cobbler Day, a National Peach Pie Day, and a National Peach Melba Day? We didn’t know any of that either, until we read the website of the 40th Annual Palisade Peach Festival of Colorado.
The festival kicks off Thursday night with an ice cream social. You’ll have the opportunity this weekend to tour the local orchards, farms, wineries, vineyards, the Palisade Brewery, and Peach Street Distillers. Colorado chefs will demonstrate peach cuisine. Feast in the Fields: Friday and Saturday dinners will be served in local orchards, and will feature local peaches, fruit, and vegetables, and local wines. Saturday’s Moonlight Soiree will feature a buffet that includes fresh local fruit, peach-mint tea, and peach sangria. There’s a pancake breakfast (including fresh peaches and locally made peach syrup), recipe contest, and peach eating contest on Saturday, and a Farmers Market on Sunday. Area restaurants are featuring peach cuisine.
Other scheduled events include a street dance, the Peach Festival at Riverside Park (free peach with each admission!), live bands, a tug of war, a 5-mile run, car show, a photo contest, a big peach contest for growers, and a parade. And four grouchy old men will compete for the honor of Town Grouch! See the festival website.
