Selling fresh peaches, jams, and aprons, Z’s Orchard is a popular stop at Peach Festival.
By Darralee Mathews, Palisade Tribune
Peaches are what made us what we are in the east end of the Grand Valley.
Our founding fathers were peach farmers. All their attention and intentions were directed at growing the best peaches anywhere and letting the world know about them.
We have fewer orchards than a hundred years ago, but we have more varieties, a much longer season and our own festival to celebrate our preeminent crop. Even so, the valley is still beautiful, peaceful and fruitful – our own Garden of Eden, and we are happy to share it with you.
The 43rd annual Palisade Peach Festival is set for Aug. 18-21. New this year are longer hours, extending the festival to Sunday, a carnival as part of the events in Riverbend Park, more music, a Fiber Expo and Cowboy Church.
Information on all these events is available online at Palisade Chamber of Commerce or email to info@palisadedcoc.com, check out the Peach Festival website at www.palisadepeach
festival.com or call 970-464-7458.
Lots of peachy events
Agritours are offered by 28 farms and businesses. Agritourism is a great new way to learn about how fruit, wine and related products are grown, harvested and processed. We have peach, pear, apple and cherry orchards; the vineyards grow many varieties of grapes and produce white, red, sweet, dry, and fruit wines and mead. Newer to the area are alpaca and lavender farms. There is a brewery and a distillery that makes vodka, brandy and whiskey. Visit the Palisade Chamber of Commerce website to download a tour map, which will not only guide you on your way, but give you information and options for the tour.
Peach Cuisine with Colorado Chefs – At Riverbend Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday cooking demos will be offered.
Peach food and products – Lots of booths will be offering peach pie, peach ice cream, “virgin” peach daiquiris and other peach drinks. You can purchase boxes of peaches, peach jam and dried peaches.
Peach Recipe Contest – Think you have the best peach recipe ever? Then enter the peach recipe contest; categories include: pies and tarts, miscellaneous refrigerated, miscellaneous non-refrigerated, home canned with ball brand preserving products. See the Peach Festival website for details and an entry form.
Feast in the Fields – There will be two “Feasts” offered this year. One on Friday night at Z’s Orchard catered by il Bistro Italiano and one Saturday at High Country Orchards catered by Bin 707 Foodbar. The Feast in the Fields events are exclusive five course dinners catered at the orchard. Seating is limited and reservations are required.
Peach Eating Contest – A favorite of festival goers: This event on Saturday afternoon is great for fun and photos.
History of Peach Growers – The Palisade Historical Society will be on hand in the park to show a video of the peach history and talk with anyone interested in Palisade’s unique history.
A Carnival for the first time – Crabtree Amusements carnival will be open on the Riverbend Park grounds offering lots of fun for kids of all ages including a Ferris wheel, train rides, bounce house, bungee tramp, pony rides, games of skill including darts and balloons. The carnival will be open the same hours as the park.
It all starts Thursday, Aug. 18
The fun begins Thursday night with an Ice Cream Social and Street Dance sponsored by the Town of Palisade. The Peach Queen and her court are crowned and the Palisade Town Grouch is anointed. Enjoy peaches and ice cream and dance the evening away on Third Street.
Riverbend Park opens Friday
At 1 p.m. Riverbend Park opens with booths, the carnival and all the other attractions mentioned above.
One of the favorite events at Peach Festival is the Peach Eating Contest. The fastest peach eater wins!
On Saturday
Start your day at the Palisade Lions Club Pancake Breakfast in Memorial Park between Main and Kluge on 8th St. For $5 you can get all you can eat of pancakes, eggs, ham, peaches, orange juice, coffee and milk. The breakfast runs from 7 – 10 a.m. You will be supporting one of our best organizations that have donated much time and money to our community for more that 80 years.
Palisade 3 and 5 Miler Race begins at 8 a.m. at Taylor Elementary and follows the Colorado River.
Don’t miss the Peach Festival Parade that starts downtown Palisade at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Festival to continue on Sunday
This year the Palisade Chamber of Commerce has added park events on Sunday to the line up.
All the booths and carnival will be open. At 11 a.m. in the park you can give thanks and sing praise at the Cowboy Church Service.
The Pedal, Paddle, Pedal Race will begin at 8 a.m. in Riverbend Park and includes a 20-mile mountain bike ride, 8-mile watercraft section and 20-mile road race. The race cost $40 for an individual and $80 for a team.
Also on Sunday the Palisade Sunday Market takes place in downtown Palisade from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Third and Main Streets in Palisade. Booths featuring unique Palisade items, fruit, produce and food. Meet the locals, visit or shops.
Downtown Palisade
Music will be playing in the Town Center Plaza all weekend. A perfect spot to get away from the crowds and get to know Palisade.
Downtown Palisade offers some unique shops including A Peachful Place, The Lavender Lady and Friends, The Blue Pig Gallery, Rapid Creek Cycles, Palisade Peddler, Down to Earth and PalisadePC.net. Visit some of the great restaurants, including The Red Rose, the Palisade Café and Grill, Mumzel’s Cups and Cones, and “Slice O’Life Bakery.
2011 Palisade Peach Festival Events Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 18
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tours: Orchards; Vineyards/Wineries; Brewery and Distillery; Alpacas; Bike Tours and Colorado River Float Trips; Limo & Van Tours. Palisade Area
4 – 7 p.m., “Old Times Again” Family Festival Games. Independent Park
6 – 9 p.m., Ice Cream Social and Street Dance. Downtown Palisade
Friday, Aug. 19
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tours: Orchards; Vineyards/Wineries; Brewery and Distillery; Alpacas; Bike Tours & Colorado River Float Trips; Limo & Van Tours Palisade Area
6 – 9 p.m., Live Entertainment, Downtown Palisade
6 – 10 p.m., “Feast in the Fields” (Reservations Required) Sponsored by US Bank at Z’s Orchard
1 to 9 p.m. Peach Festival Events at Riverbend Park
1 – 9 p.m., More than 100 Vendors, Fiber Expo, Carnival: Ferris Wheel, Adult & Children Fun Rides
2 – 7 p.m., Peach Cuisine with Colorado Chefs, Sponsored by Dos Hombres/Clifton
Live Music/Entertainment Sponsored by Grand Junction Subaru
6 p.m., “Peach Pit Pull”: Local High School Football Teams
Saturday, Aug. 20
7 – 10 a.m., Lions Club Pancake Breakfast Palisade Memorial Park
7:30 – 9 a.m., Recipe Contest Check-in Palisade Memorial Park
8 a.m., Peach Fest 3 – 5 Mile Run, Taylor Elementary
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., “Just 4 Fun” Car Show, Peach Bowl Park
9 a.m., Peach Festival Parade, Sponsored by Grand Junction Subaru, Downtown Palisade
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Palisade Library Book Sale, Palisade Library
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tours: Orchards; Vineyards/Wineries; Brewery and Distillery; Alpacas; Bike Tours and Colorado River Float Trips; Limo & Van Tours, Palisade Area
11 a.m., Recipe Contest: Announcement of Winners and Sample Sales, Palisade Memorial Park
All day, Live Entertainment, Downtown Palisade
6 – 10 p.m., Feast in the Fields (reservations required) Sponsored by U.S. Bank, High Country Orchards
10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Peach Festival Events at Riverbend Park
6 – 10 p.m., More than 100 Vendors, Fiber Expo, Carnival: Ferris Wheel, Adult & Children Fun Rides
11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Peach Cuisine with Colorado Chefs, Sponsored by Dos Hombres/Clifton
11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Live Music/Entertainment Sponso red by Grand Junction Subaru
2 p.m., Peach Eating Contest, Sponsored by American National Bank
Sunday, Aug. 21
8 a.m., Peach Fest Pedal, Paddle, Pedal, Riverbend Park
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tours: Orchards; Vineyards/Wineries; Brewery and Distillery; Alpacas; Bike Tours & Colorado River Float Trips; Limo & Van Tours, Palisade Area
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Palisade Sunday Market, Downtown Palisade
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Peach Festival Events at Riverbend Park
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fiber Expo
11 a.m. – Noon Cowboy Church
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Over 100 Vendors
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Carnival: Ferris Wheel, Adult & Children Fun Rides
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Live Music/Entertainment Sponsored by Grand Junction Subaru
Music Schedule at Palisade Peach Festival Friday, Aug. 19
6 – 6:45 p.m., Centennial Band
7 – 9 p.m., Stray Grass
Saturday, Aug. 20
1 – 2:30 p.m., Tony Rosario
3 – 4:45 p.m., Tomasina Brown Project
5 – 7 p.m., Vintage Voltage
7:30 – 9 p.m., The Allstars
Sunday, Aug. 21
1 – 2:30 p.m., The Warblers – Tony and Miss Emily
3 – 4:30 p.m., Exit 42
www.palisadepeachfest.com
