Peach Jam Jubilee celebrates 75th anniversary of Peach Festival
Published 2:16 pm Monday, June 27, 2022
Patrons look through the different types of peaches. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
Musicians Drake White and Kasey Tyndall performed for the crowd. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
Attendees made their own fun with plenty of space for outdoor games. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
The crowd watches the Peach Auction on the main stage in the park. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
There were four sections of vendors for shoppers to look through. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
Many of the Chilton County peach growers brought their fruit to sell. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
A girl inside a firetruck at the touch-a-truck part of Peach Jam. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
A truck with Harvester variety peaches for sale in the farmer market. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
The farmers markets housed many different Chilton County crops as well as peaches. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
A child slides down an inflatable slide in the kid’s zone. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
Children cooling off inside the YMCA of Chilton County at the ninja obstacle course. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
A girl holds a basket of peaches from the peach orchard. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
A hot air balloon at Peach Jam being raised. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
One of the older cars on display at the vintage car show at the Jubilee. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
There were different food vendors from pizza to fried items. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)
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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer
With the heat index peaking over 100 degrees, peach lovers braved the elements on June 25 to come out to the 2022 Peach Jam Jubilee to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Chilton County Peach Festival.
Vendors, food and music filled Clanton City Park as early as 9 a.m. after the Peach Parade concluded.
“It gets everyone together,” Chilton County resident April Teel said. “Everyone works toward supporting the farmers, our local farmers, and that is what it is all about.”
Peach farmers from all over Chilton County brought their fruit to sell to the peach-seeking patrons.
M&M Farms and Knight Farms combined their booth at the Jubilee and had tables full of colorful peaches.
“The harvest this year was pretty good, but the size just was not there with some damage from the cold,” Andrea Knight said. “Other than that, everything has been plentiful, and we have a lot of peaches.”
Knight said the crowd at noon was massive compared to years before.
“I think the turnout this year was great, and that is good for the county,” Knight said.
The Forever Peach Queens and newly crowned Peach Queens were recognized on the main stage before the Peach Auction.
A farmer’s market was available as well that had many different crops from farmers across the county as well as peaches as far as the eye could see.
There were four sections of vendors selling various items such as clothing, household goods and homemade food. Food vendors ranged from local food truck favorites to classic fair food and pizza.
The Jubilee featured a kid’s zone with inflatables, a cornhole tournament and an antique car show.
“It has been really good, and way bigger than last year,” Chilton County resident Rachel McKee said.
McKee, who has lived in Chilton County her whole life, said this year’s Peach Week has been the biggest she has seen. Her son said his favorite part of the day was the inflatables in the kid’s zone.
James Teel brought his 1930 Ford Model A truck to the antique car auction in Goose Pond Park to show off to the spectators. James Teel said the attractions were massive with “tons of spectators, and a lot of people spending money which is what it takes to build communities.”
“It has really grown and it is booming,” James Teel said. “With all the festivities throughout the week, we have really enjoyed it.”
Drake White and Kasey Tyndall performed in the evening on the main stage before the City of Clanton Fireworks Show closed out the 75th anniversary of the Peach Festival.
