MainStreet Hammonton hosts its 6th Annual Peach Party
The 6th annual Hammonton Peach Party is sure to please guests of all ages this summer! Pastore Orchards returns to provide bushels upon bushels of fresh, fuzzy peaches. They will be coming from their regular stand on Route 30 in Elm to set up a mini farm stand, featuring the fruit that has been part of their 100 year history. This year, local New Jersey bluegrass band, Stone Mt. Road, will make their debut in Hammonton, playing a rustic, cozy sound for the festival. Tommy Mature of Hammonton will return with the antique peach tractor, providing the perfect opportunity for a fun photo while learning about the history of peach farming in Hammonton.
The beloved Best Peach Fuzz Baby Contest will also be returning this year, generously sponsored by The Baby’s Nest at Golden Feather. Guests may enter their one-year old or younger into the contest for the chance to be one of the three winners. Pictures will be taken at the Peach Fuzz booth, printed, and posted on the voting board, where guests can vote for the cutest “peach fuzzy head!”
A new event has been added this year to mimic the Peach Queen pageants of the 50’s and 60’s. Plan to enter your toddlers to pre-teens in their Peach Court where children will be judged on their personality and peach pizazz. Formal wear is not expected however peach themed apparel or accessories is encouraged. Free photo entries begin at 10 am and end at 12pm and will be sent to an off-site judges’ panel selected by the event’s sponsor, Meadows Bridal Shop. Contestants will be judged on personality and pizazz. Winners will be announced at 12:45 and receive a tiara or scepter along with the title of the Peach Court but must be present to receive their title and prize. The Peach Court Categories are: Ages 2 to 3 – Little Peach Blossom & Little Jersey Peach; Age 4 to 6 – Junior Peach Princess and Prince; Age 7 to 11 – Peach Princess and Prince Supreme
The 6th annual Peach Party has more activities and crafts than ever! At Toy Market, children can make their own peach-shaped window clings. Families can visit the Camp Tuscaloosa / R.E.A.D. booth for a fun, refreshing activity while the MainStreet Misting Tent will help keep everyone cool! New Hammonton business, Brush Strokes, will offer a complimentary craft activity and will be selling peach cotton candy. Get your hair braided with a peach doo-dad and stop by to paint a beautiful peach on a paint canvas. If cooking is your thing, visit our Live Food Demo booth where Susan Leiser, Food Blogger and Grand Prize Winner of the Taste of Home Magazine’s Fresh from the Garden will demonstrate her three favorite peach recipes that are easy and fun to make. Demo times are at 9:45, 10:45 and 11:45 a.m. Stop by and learn something new for your next party.
It wouldn’t be a Peach Party if there wasn’t a wide array of peach delicacies! Offerings include peach pies, hand pies, cobblers, cheesecakes, coffees, iced teas, lemonade, sweet buns, cookies, pancakes, jams, jellies, and salads, all featuring the fabulous summer peach. Favorite local food vendors will make a comeback this year, such as Sweet Creations with their rolled ice cream and Olde World Cannoli’s peach cream cannoli. Be sure to grab a savory bite at Asian Street Cravings, offering their peach-glazed Asian skewers!
Last, but not least, be sure to enter the local Perfect Peach Pie contest, where prizes will be awarded to 1st place, runner-up, and honorary mention. Peach pies can be open-faced or double-crusted, baked or unbaked, and will be judged on their appearance, taste, and originality. Recipes and pies should be delivered by 11:00 am to Kitchen19 for judging. Winners will be announced by 12:00 pm. At the local level, the 1st place will receive a gift card to Kitchen 19 for $75, runner-up will receive a $25 gift card to Casciano Coffee Bar & Sweetery, and honorary mention will receive a gift $10 gift certificate from Bellevue Bagel. 1st place winner of the local contest will be invited to submit an entry at the state-level, sponsored by the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council, who sponsors two contests in the North and South parts of the state. At this level, each 1st place winner will receive a prize valued at $300!
The Peach Party is sponsored by MainStreet Hammonton and made possible by our corporate partnership with AtlantiCare, a member of Geisinger Health System, who continues to make healthy-living part of their commitment to South Jersey. Linda Cashan, event coordinator, says, “This morning is sure to please all peach-lovers and families looking for a fun outing. Guests can plan to eat breakfast or lunch at the festival or one of the nearby Downtown restaurants, just steps away!” For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/hammontonpeachparty or call (609)567-9014.
