Where ever you go, out in the orchards and wineries or in and around Palisade, preparations are being made for the 2014 Palisade Peach Festival, presented by American Furniture Warehouse, Thursday, August 14th, thru Sunday, August 17th.
All over the valley and beyond, beginners and seasoned cooks are busy figuring out their Peach Recipe Contest entry. Everyone is salivating over the sample sales after the contest. Local chefs are busy creating their dishes to present at the Peach cuisine with Colorado chefs.
Peach jams, jellies, cobblers, pies and vendor peach specials are being prepared. Palisade Lions prepare for the big Peach Pancake breakfast, the peach parade’s ready, T-Shirts are fabulous, and The New Peach Jam Stage’s Jammin’ entertainment is sure to please and is free with admission ticket. Jakes Jungle is filling up with all types of activities for children including the coloring contest with prizes of tigers…. Stuffed, that is.
Volunteers prepare to peel, slice and serve peaches over bowls of ice cream at the Free Ice Cream Social and Street Dance downtown, Thursday night, August 14th .
Peach Royalty
The crowning of the new Peach Royalty will take place Thursday, plus the introduction of the “New Town Grouch”.
The Festival down at Riverbend Park Friday and Saturday joins all the activities going on all over town with the Peach Parade, Recipe Contest, Peach Pancake Breakfast and restaurant peach specials.
Where ever you go in and around Palisade… peaches rule!
At Riverbend Park, local fireman and policemen will compete for the Tug of War Bragging Rights, and there’s A Peach Eating Contest. Our Palisade High School Peach Knowledge Bowl will launch plastic peaches, purchased by all supporting the kids, in the Annual Peach Plunge Fund Raiser to help with expenses.
Growers and valley chefs bring to you “Feast in the Fields.” Guests will enjoy a gourmet meal with local wines among the peach trees at Z’s Orchards and Suncrest Orchard Alpacas.
When you’re in Palisade Peach Country during the festival, it’s all about the Power of the Peach with this year’s bumper crops of those juicy, sun kissed, high dessert, grown to perfection, peaches! How sweet it is! Come join us!
For more information call 464-7458 or go to www.palisadepeachfest.com
Special note: The Grand Junction Rockies join in the celebration with “Peach Night at the GJ Rockies” on the Wednesday night August 13th, the day before the festival starts. Tim Ray, general manager for the GJ Rockies, is pleased to help honor the best peaches in the world and those who grow them! Tim says, “Let this be the beginning of an annual celebration at a GJ Rockies game in August as the Palisade Peach Festival approaches. The Palisade Peach will definitely rule at the game as well with all kinds of peach eats and peach contests.”
