Historic Folsom turned into a bustling peach haven Sunday morning as the annual Peaches in the Plaza made its return to Historic Folsom. Formerly known as the Peach Festival, the annual event celebrates Northern California’s peach harvest and drew hundreds of attendees to the Historic Folsom Plaza and the Zittle Family Amphitheater for a day filled with vibrant activities, delicious treats, and a palpable sense of community in the heart of the city.
The event, organized by Living Smart Farmers Markets, showcased a variety of peach-themed attractions and local crafts in a classic farmers market format. The historic plaza transformed into a colorful marketplace where visitors could sample and purchase a variety of peach-related goods, from freshly picked peaches and homemade peach preserves to peach desserts and more. If you are a fan of peaches, chances are Folsom was your destination on this day.
Despite temperatures approaching triple digits, the heat didn’t dampen the spirits of festival-goers. Attendees flocked into the district, many arriving as the event opened at 10 a.m. to beat the heat and the larger crowds that build up as the day goes on.
“The weather is definitely warm, but it’s worth it for a day like this,” said Folsom resident and festival-goer Emily Johnson as she checked out not only the peaches but other produce at one of the many booths. “There’s such a great energy here in Folsom at the Saturday markets, so we wanted to come out and check it out today. My husband has been really wanting a homemade peach pie, so no more excuses.”
This year’s festival was organized within the plaza area itself, a change from last year’s event, which spanned Sutter Street and required road closures. The shift to the plaza proved beneficial, as it alleviated parking and traffic issues that had previously caused some inconvenience for Historic Folsom residents. In the early hours of the event, the flow of traffic was well-managed without excessive backup like last year.
“It’s much better this way, ” said organizer Marie Hall of Living Smart as she was setting up for the peach eating contest. “It’s easier for me as an organizer to manage, last year was just too much to handle with the road closures and barricades and the crowd. This is good for all of the vendors, and the attendees, it’s just the right size.”
The festival’s array of activities catered to all ages. Visitors enjoyed peach-themed games, a lively peach-eating contest, live music performances, and various craft booths. The peach-eating contest, a highlight of the day, drew enthusiastic participants who competed to devour as many peaches as possible. The contest is always a hit, providing plenty of excitement and laughter and perhaps a tummy ache later if you were one of the top peach “gobblers.”
Gold River resident Mary Jenkins has attended the Peach Festival for the past six years. She brings her daughter-in-law each year and, this year, her grandsons, who enjoyed face painting and the games.
“I look forward to this festival every year. It’s become a little tradition for my family and me,” Jenkins said. “This market has great local charm. It’s a great way to enjoy Sunday morning with the family. We started off with breakfast at Early Toast and then came right over.”
For the younger attendees, the festival offered endless fun. Nine-year-old Ethan Miller from Folsom participated in the peach-eating contest and enjoyed the peach-themed games. Miller wasn’t a winner in the contest, but his face showed he made a valiant effort as he walked from the stage to get a little clean up from his dad. “It was fun, the peaches were slimy and kept sliding off my mouth, and you can’t use your hands.”
The festival also had a positive impact on local businesses. The influx of visitors provided a boost to shops and eateries along Sutter Street and throughout the historic district. Jim Metzker, who owns Dorothea’s Shoppe on Sutter Street, looks forward to the many events the Folsom Historic District Association (FHDA) brings to the district because it brings new visitors to his store and others.
“If you’re looking for something fun to do for everyone in your family, this is your event. Peach pie, peach-eating contest, peach wine, yes, everything you can imagine is here today,” said Metzker. “This event has continued to grow through the years, and it’s amazing how many people from out of town it brings down to the historic district. As a merchant, I’m grateful for these family-friendly experiences.”
Vendors were also enthusiastic about the festival’s success. Emily Clarke, who works for one of the vendors and was running their busy booth stocked with three varieties of peaches, noted how the Folsom event’s atmosphere is always fun. “It’s fantastic interacting with the people. It’s a great way to connect with the community and for the farmers to show off the fruits of their labor, literally, I guess.”
Northern California’s peach harvest season is in full swing, providing the perfect backdrop for the festival. The region’s orchards are bursting with ripe peaches, making it an ideal time to celebrate local agriculture.
Sunday’s event was not only host to peaches but also featured a variety of other fruits and vegetables for purchase, as well as lemonades, slushies, nuts, and more. There were several artisan crafters with booths, as well as apparel, jewelry, and more. The event welcomed several different food trucks that lined the border of the plaza as well to dish up many food truck faves.
The Peach Festival’s success is a testament to the ongoing work of Living Smart Farmers Markets, known for organizing weekly markets in Historic Folsom, Palladio, and other regional locations. Their commitment to fostering community engagement and supporting local agriculture through events like the Peach Festival is evident, but there is also much more behind their efforts. The organization helps to educate and foster youth through their programs and promotes healthy living.
Sunday’s event was scheduled to continue until 3 p.m. For those interested in experiencing more of what Historic Folsom has to offer, upcoming events and activities can be found at historicfolsom.org. Folsom Times imagery by Bill Sullivan, click to enlarge.
