LEITERSBURG – The Leitersburg Ruritan Club held its 46th annual Leitersburg Peach Festival Aug. 9 and 10. It was a beautiful sunny weekend at the Ruritan Community Center filled with music, games, rides, shopping and, of course, lots and lots of peaches.
The highlight of day two was a 5K race that featured more than 140 runners and walkers.
One of the main attractions of the festival was the more than 100 vendors who had something to offer everyone. There were toys and clothes for the kids and even some for the four-legged family members. There were custom jewelry dealers and artisans who worked with just about every solid element one could think of. There were culinary delights such cheese makers and homemade nuts and beef jerky.
Practical items for the home such as homemade candles and soaps were offered, as well as several authors with books ranging from children’s books to historical non-fiction. One author who spoke to LocalNews1 was Bob O’Conner, who had a wide range of available works that focused on some of the most pivotal moments in American history. The crowd was teeming as they moved from tent to tent looking for gift ideas or something for the home.
“We have been coming to the festival for over 10 years,” said one woman from Hagerstown, “and it keeps getting better every year.”
The Peach Festival was also popular with the children from the area and for good reasons. There was a bouncy house, a giant slide and a tractor ride that took them on a scenic route around the community center. One of the most popular attractions was the pony rides.
There were some sweet treats available for kids of all ages as well. One tent featured freshly made kettle corn while another offered up some tasty funnel cakes. And to cool off from the summer heat, Kona Ice had their ice truck set up to offer sno-cones in a variety of flavors.
But it wasn’t just the kids who were having fun. Visitors enjoyed the live music that played throughout the day as well as a chainsaw artist and a blacksmith who offered a glimpse into how they create their amazing work. Art Shanholtz who owns “Art’s Anvil” said that he had been coming to the Leitersburg Peach Festival for over 10 years and for a good reason.
“I love this event because the people like to talk to you,” he said with a smile. “They ask questions and are really interested in learning what a blacksmith does.”
From the smoke of the blacksmith’s tent to the smokers of the local barbeque masters, there was food for every taste, including.pulled pork and chicken, roast beef sandwiches and of course the traditional hot dog. However, this writer chose the BBQ Beef sandwich with fries and a cup of peach iced tea topped with a slice of fresh peach. I even got one of the souvenir cups to take home. The toughest decision for me was to choose a dessert. There was peach pie, peach cobbler and peach ice cream. In the end the ice cream won me over, and what a delicious victory it was.
Whether you went for one day, or for both, the Leitersburg Peach Festival was sure to send you home with great memories. If you sweated it out in the 5K race, went on a shopping spree with the many vendors, or enjoyed the variety of entertainment, it was a great time had by all.
