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Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2009

Ga. Peach Festival starts this weekend

The World’s Largest Peach Cobbler will make an appearance once again as part of the 2009 annual Georgia Peach Festival, which starts this Saturday.

By the way, that giant cobbler recipe includes 75 gallons of fresh sliced Georgia peaches, 150 pounds of self-rising flour, 150 pounds of sugar, 32 gallons of milk and a whopping 90 pounds of butter.

This year’s festival officially begins Saturday night, but two events will be held Friday in Byron. At noon Friday, the Byron Historical Society will host its annual luncheon at Byron United Methodist Church’s Christian Fellowship Center, 103 W. Heritage Blvd. Tickets are $10, which also includes a performance of a day in the life of the old Vinson/Robertson Drugstore. For more information, call 956-2409. Also, at 7 p.m. the Peach Community Choir will perform at Byron Baptist Church.

New to the festival this year will be a poker run starting at Jugheads in Byron. The event is being held in honor of Paul Reehling Jr., who died last year. The poker run will start at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13. Bikers will have a chance to travel to peach sheds throughout the area, including Dickey Farms in Musella, Taylor Orchards in Reynolds, Pearson Orchards in Zenith and Lane Packing Co. in Fort Valley. Entry fee is $20, which includes the first hand of cards. Additional cards can be purchased for $5. To register or for more information, call 825-5986. You can also register on the morning of the event.

The festival kickoff with opening ceremonies will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Peach Shops of Byron, followed by an 8 p.m. free concert. A fireworks show will be held at dark.

The Peach Community Choir will have a busy week as it performs at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Byron Municipal Complex Auditorium and at 7 p.m. Monday at the Austin Theatre in downtown Fort Valley.

Get ready for the painting of the peaches on city streets beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday throughout downtown Fort Valley. All downtown streets will be closed to traffic.

Khoury’s Walk for Health, open to everyone, will begin at 7 p.m. June 17 in Fort Valley.

A big day is planned for Saturday, June 20, as the annual 5K road race begins at 7 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Fort Valley, corner of College and Miller streets. The course is fast and flat, taking participants on a tour of the historic district in Fort Valley. Entry fees are $17 if postmarked by Monday and $20 after. A fun run entry fee for runners 12 and under is $10 if postmarked by Monday and $12 after. There is a group discount for eight or more entries. You can download an application by visiting www.worldslargestpeach cobbler.com.

All day long June 20 there will be arts and crafts throughout downtown Fort Valley, live music, food, kiddie rides, water slides and inflatable play toys for the children. There also will be free tours available at Lane Packing Co. Free shuttle rides will be available to the plant located on Ga. 96. Fresh Georgia peaches also will be for sale in downtown Fort Valley.

The annual parade, complete with festival queens and area clubs and businesses, begins at 10 a.m. the same day in downtown Fort Valley.

The Peach County Historical Society’s annual chicken salad luncheon will be at 11 a.m. June 20 at the McArthur-Saxon House, corner of Miller Street and Central Avenue. Tickets are $8 and are available at the Troutman House or by calling Kathie Lambert at 825-5986.

Don’t forget about the World’s Largest Peach Cobbler — free, of course. The bubbling, oozing festival favorite will be ready to serve at 2 p.m. June 20 in the parking lot of the Peach County Courthouse.

At 8 p.m. June 20, there will be a free concert on the main stage near the courthouse, with a fireworks finale at dark.

This year, the festival committee is selling the Georgia Hometown Cookbook for $15, on sale at the Troutman House in downtown Fort Valley.

There’s also the Georgia Peach Festival recipe card for sale for the World Famous Peach Cobbler and T-shirts.

To learn more about the Georgia Peach Festival, visit www.gapeach festival.com.

To contact writer Jenny Gordon, call 923-3109, extension 240.