The high temperatures didn’t keep the crowds away from Historic Folsom Sunday as the annual Peach Festival made its return to the heart of the city for a morning and afternoon that provided plenty of bright, warm fuzzy fun for all ages.
As it has in the past, this annual late summer affair continues to grow in popularity each year. Such was the case Sunday as thousands swarmed the Historic Folsom Plaza and parts of Sutter Street for a variety of activities, offerings and fruity fare.
As soon as the event opened at 10 a.m. Sunday, the parking garage was bustling with activity as a flurry of families parked and made their way to the festival that was just footsteps away. Whether it was fresh peaches or other natural foods, live music or kids’ activities, the affair offered something for everyone.
The annual Peach Festival is presented by Living Smart Farmers Markets and Foundation, the same organization that presents the weekly Folsom Saturday Farmers Markets. Living Smart Farmers Markets is a nonprofit focusing on supporting small businesses and local commerce. The event supports education programs offered to those ages 14 to 24 in financial literacy and entrepreneurship. All students who participate in the programs are also offered the opportunity to work in the markets
On Sunday, some 100 different vendors participated, many providing peach-themed treats and products that included everything from gourmet hotdogs with spicy peach condiment, street tacos with a peach salsa, peach-flavored cotton candy, peach ice cream, peach pies, cobblers, turnovers, peach-flavored lemonade, ice tea and of course, tasting of peach bellinis and sangria for the adults.
Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to participate in a number of contests, including a peach dessert contest and several peach-eating contests. Enjoy peaches and whip cream? How about eating them face first as fast as you can? Such was the case as many youngsters donned a bib, placed their hands behind them and went face first into a giant plate of peaches to try and be the a top three finisher. Win or lose, the contest comes with your fill of fruity creamy fun.
“People really love the games and especially enjoy the fresh peaches we plate with whipped cream,” says Living Smart’s founder Marie Hall, who is always busy interacting with the crowd at this event.
The contest peaches are made fresh before the fun begins. They are prepared by blanching them, peeling the skins, cutting them into bite-sized pieces and then piling them on a plate before the contestants faceplant themselves into them.
11-year-old William Howard of Gold River was one of the many contestants in the contest. Despite making an aggressive effort to out-indulge his counterparts he finishes just one spot off the podium but was thrilled to just be part of it. Wearing a great deal of peaches on his face, he made it known that peaches are now is favorite fruit.
“Strawberries are my favorite but now peaches are too,” he said. “But I don’t think I want any more today.”
As usual, the event brought Sutter Street merchants plenty of diners, drinkers, shoppers and sidewalk strollers throughout the day. The marked the first year the event took place in tandem with the new Sunday Farmer’s Market that takes place on the 700 block of Sutter Street. The combination of the two events gave everyone even more to enjoy across the district.
Many merchants dished out peach themed offerings or specials for the day. At Snook’s Chocolate Factory, all of the usual delicious delights were being served up, along with plenty of peach flavored Gunther’s ice cream, a creamy, peachy treat many were enjoying as they strolled the streets.
After some traffic snafus last year, event organizers took extra measures this year to better control the traffic flow into the event. No parking zones were clearly marked in many of the residential areas. Extra traffic control personnel was stationed at various areas throughout the districts and Sacramento Regional Transit offered free transportation in and out of the district on Light Rail. Even with the extra attention, the event caused its share of traffic snarls in and around the Historic District throughout the day due to the high attendance. *Scroll through the many photos from the event captured by Folsom Times’ Bill Sullivan below.
