The 72nd annual Louisiana Peach Festival will take place on Saturday, June 4 in downtown Ruston. The single-day event will span from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and feature 10+ hours of live music, more than 80 food and art vendors, interactive kids activities, peachy treats and eats, and more fun for the whole family.
Last year's festival saw a record-setting number of attendees, which signaled to event organizers that their new approach to the festival appealed to locals and visitors alike. The 2021 event emphasized local art, music, and flavors, in addition to offering free kids' activities and free admission for a portion of the festival.
"I think our efforts to refocus the festival back on the area's unique culture and talent were felt and embraced by the community," said Amanda Carrier, President and CEO of the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We're taking the feedback we received after last year's event and expanding on those elements that attendees enjoyed the most."
The festival will be extending its free admission period to 5 p.m. and "Kids Alley" activities will be spread out onto East Park Avenue to allow for more activities and entertainment for children, all offered completely free of charge.
"The Peach Festival is not only a wonderful celebration of our local culture, but it is a huge economic driver for our small business downtown and beyond," said Amy Stegall, Ruston Main Street Director.
The festival continues to add more than a million-dollar economic impact to the area annually. Festival organizers hope that local businesses and vendors will see a substantial impact again during this year's event.
In an effort to encourage the community to enjoy the festivities and shop and eat downtown, all festival activities will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The evening concert from 5 to 11 p.m. will have an admission of $10 for adults and $5 for children, children 12 and under are free. Children 4 and under are free all day.
The following is the schedule of events for the Peach Festival; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Peach Arts Market, which includes discover art, handmade items, and homemade goods from local artists, artisans, and makers. Located in Sexton Lot across from Railroad Park. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids Alley. This includes an Art Experience. Kids of all ages can enjoy hands-on art activities and crafts on East Park Ave., along with interactive performances and demonstrations on the Kids Alley stage in Esma’s Alley. From 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., live performances on the Railroad Park Stage including Fifth Sunday, Hali Brown, Jarett Bailey, Katelyn Fajardo, Cal Presley Band, Derrick McLendon, The Joanitones, Dead Reckoning String Band, Cold Canyons, Johnny Earthquake & the Moondogs, and J.A.M. Brass Band.
Other offsite peach events will also be taking place during the week leading up to the festival. These events include Peach Hunt, Peach Restaurant Roundup, Peach Art Exhibit, Peachy Sidewalk Sales, Queen Dixie Gem Peach and Princess Peach Pageant, and the Peach Rodeo. For a full list of events, please visit www.lapeachfest.com/schedule.
Official 2022 Peach Festival merchandise will be available for purchase at the Ruston Visitors Center two weeks before the festival. This year's merchandise includes t-shirts (12M-4XL), posters, and stickers. All festival merchandise will also be available for the festival on June 4.
The Peach Festival is still seeking volunteers. Those interested in volunteering can view the volunteer slots that are still open and sign up at lapeachfest.com/volunteers.
For more information on the Louisiana Peach Festival, visit www.lapeachfest.com or contact 318-255-2031.
The Louisiana Peach Festival is a long-standing Ruston tradition dating back to 1951. The festival was created by area peach farmers as a way to promote their industry throughout Louisiana and surrounding states. Over the years, the Peach Festival has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to Lincoln Parish and pumped millions back into the local economy. The festival has seen many changes over its 70 plus years, but throughout it all, the event has continued to be a source of excitement and pride in the community.