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Palisade Peach Festival set for Aug. 12-15 with many events

Brittany Markert
bmarkert@gjfreepress.com
The Lions Club will serve pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and peach syrup on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 7-10 a.m. at Palisade's Veteran's Memorial Park.
Submitted photo |

GO&DO

WHAT: Palisade Peach Festival

WHEN: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 14-15

WHERE: Riverbend Park (451 Pendleton St., Palisade)

COST: $7 for adults, $3 for children under 12, $5 for seniors/millitary

INFO: http://www.palisadepeachfest.com

It’s the sweetest time of the year in Colorado’s Grand Valley — the 47th annual Palisade Peach Festival.

“It’s important to do the festival because it brings attention to the peach industry,” said Juliann Adams, executive director of Palisade’s Chamber of Commerce. “It’s so important to our town and agriculture — it sets our character and makes us what we are.”

Festival activities will kick off Wednesday, Aug. 12, and last until Saturday, Aug. 16. General admission tickets for the main festival at Riverbend Park (451 Pendleton St., Palisade) is $7 for adults, $3 for children under 12 and $5 for seniors and military. Two-day tickets cost $10 for adults, $7 for children and $7 for seniors and military.



“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone have fun at the festival,” Adams said. “It’s why we do it.”

WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENTS




Grand Junction Rockies will host Peach Fest Night on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available for the L section at $9 per person. The first pitch will actually be a peach thrown instead of a baseball.

Thursday, Aug. 13, will be the crowning of the town grouch and peach queen, ice cream social and street dance in downtown Palisade starting at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages.

The festival will start on Friday, Aug. 14, at Riverbend Park from 4-10 p.m. There will be vendors, food and music. Local chefs will host peach cuisine demonstrations from 4-8 p.m. Music will play from 5-10 p.m. at the main stage including The Navigators, Roundabout Band and The Radio Band.

Enjoy the bounties of local orchards and wineries at the annual Feast in the Field dinners on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15, from 6-9 p.m. The dinner is set for Suncrest Orchards (3608 E 1/4 Road, Palisade). Tickets cost $105 and includes a four-course meal and wine from local wineries.

SATURDAY EVENTS

Lions Club’s pancake breakfast will start Saturday’s events off from 7-10 a.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Palisade. Scrambled eggs, sausage, Palisade peaches, orange juice and milk will be served alongside pancakes. Pancakes are topped with peach syrup, if desired. The breakfast costs $7.

The day continues with the Peach Festival at Riverbend Park from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The parade will start at 9 a.m. as well, which will meander through downtown Palisade.

Historic walking tours will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. which will begin at Palisade’s Historical Society office, located at 311 S. Main St., in Palisade. Donations are accepted for the tours.

Music will continue from noon to 9 p.m. with Collin Reese, Lincoln Pants Band, Tuck-N-Roll, Stray Grass and Boogie Machine.

Attempt to be the fastest peach eater in the west with the peach eating contest at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.

The artist who designed the festival poster, Jon Crocker, will be on site to sign posters from 5-7 p.m.

Round-trip shuttles are scheduled for pick ups and drop-offs at DoubleTree, Grand Vista Hotel and Holiday Inn along Horizon Drive in Grand Junction and dropped off at Riverbend Park in Palisade. The shuttle will start at 9 a.m., with scheduled pick ups also at 2 and 6 p.m. back to the hotels. Tickets cost $10 per person and includes general admission to the festival.

Tour Palisade peach orchards in style with a ride in an air-conditioned bus. For $47 per person, folks can enjoy a ride to four orchards, which includes lunch and samples of cider, peach ice cream and peaches.

“It’s the perfect way to see the peach industry in action,” Adams said.

Tickets include VIP parking and a two-day pass to the peach festival.

For more information, visit http://www.palisadepeachfest.com.