Nothing says summer quite like sweet peach juice dripping down your chin. Fort Collins is capitalizing on this summertime staple for the sixth year in a row with their annual Fort Collins Peach Festival this August!
Consider this your guide leading up to the event so you can know what to expect, but don’t lose sight of this after all is said and done. With a large collection of peaches in your possession, you’ll need some peach recipes and preservation ideas to maximize the sweet peachy goodness.
So stock up on peaches at the Fort Collins Peach Festival, and get creative in the kitchen with these delicious peach-centric recipes!
When Is It?
The festival is on Saturday, August 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — the perfect time to soak in the final days of summer.
Photo Courtesy of Fort Collins Peach Festival
Where Is It?
Head to Colorado State University’s Hughes Stadium for all the peaches your heart can handle.
How Much Does It Cost?
It is free admission, and parking costs $5 (unless you are participating in the 5K or Healthy Kids Run — then parking is free!). The festival operates on a ticket system where $1 gets you one ticket and those tickets are good to use at the various vendors and activities. But don’t worry about stopping by an ATM because cash and credit cards are accepted to purchase tickets!
Photos Courtesy of Fort Collins Peach Festival
What’s Happening Throughout the Day?
8 a.m. 5K Run/Walk (Rain or Shine; Parking Free for Runners)
8:30 a.m. Peachy Breakfast
9 a.m. Healthy Kids Run (Parking Free for Runners)
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Peach Festival
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. She & I (Modern Acoustic Americana)
11:45 a.m. Peach Pie Eating Contest and Peach Eating Contest #1
12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Robert Wilson Blues Band (Blues With Feelin’)
2:45 p.m. Peach Pie Eating Contest and Peach Eating Contest #2
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. The Seers (Electric Acoustic Duo)
How Do I Participate in the 5K?
Pre-register for the Peach Festival 5K Run/Walk and pay just $25 per adult and $15 per child (under 14). Or purchase the Pre-Registration Family Pack for $50, which includes registration for two adults and two children under 14.
If you register on the day of the event, you’ll pay $30 per adult, $20 per child (under 14), and $60 for the Family Pack.
The 5K course starts and ends at Hughes Stadium, and features a 99% dirt trail with amazing views of the foothills. You may choose to either walk or run this course, and strollers are welcomed! Participate in the 5K Run/Walk taking off at 8 a.m. or the Healthy Kids Fun Run starting at 9 a.m.
As mentioned, parking is free for all runners!
Photos Courtesy of Fort Collins Peach Festival
Who Does The Festival Benefit?
The Fort Collins Peach Festival benefits STEM Education Fund and The Rotary Clubs of Fort Collins.
What’s So Special About These Peaches?
Just a few hours away lies Palisade, Colorado, a beautiful town in western Colorado perfect for growing peaches. With the Colorado River flowing nearby, a large valley area filled with fruit orchards, and the warm breeze coming off the nearby Grand Mesa, you’ll find fewer places more beautiful than Palisade.
You can purchase boxes or bags filled with Palisade Peaches during the festival, and can even order boxes in advance if you’re already convinced or have tasted these beauties in years past. If you choose the latter option, keep in mind that your peaches will not be available for pickup within the festival. You must enter through Gate 6 of the stadium to pick them up between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on August 20!
Not only will your family gain a large amount of tasty summer fruit, your purchase of a $40 box of Palisade Peaches through the Rotary Peach Sale buys a dictionary for a third grader.
Photos Courtesy of Fort Collins Peach Festival
What Can I Expect To See?
You’ll see a wide number of fun and peach-centric activities at the festival, including children’s activities, great entertainment, peach pies, live music, delicious food and beverages, business booths, and a myriad of peach-themed events happening all day long!
How Can I Stay in the Know?
Besides subscribing to our blog? Oh! You’re talking about staying in the know about the peach festival. Follow along on their Facebook page for updates leading up to the event, and to see photos of your face covered in peach juice after the festival!
Now, What Do I Do With All of These Peaches?!
Another area known for growing exceptional peaches is the farmland featuring dense, mineral-rich soil down in Georgia. The Peach Truck delivers fresh peaches straight from Pearson Farm in Fort Valley, Georgia to the folks of Nashville each summer at various farmers’ markets and locations around town. They can also deliver peaches straight to your door with their Farm to Porch program! Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until next May before you order your very own box of Georgia peaches on-demand — but they are well worth the wait.
With years of peach slinging under their belts, The Peach Truck team has curated quite the peachy recipe collection. Some of our favorites include…
Peach Grilled Cheese With Bacon
This Peach Grilled Cheese With Bacon proves that grilled cheese isn’t just for kids. This flavorful sandwich is packed with strips of crispy bacon, havarti cheese and sweet peaches. Create an extra-crunchy crust using Duke’s Mayonnaise instead of butter.
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Peach Pizza With Prosciutto and Mozzarella
Pizza made at home just tastes better. Test this theory by making your own sweet and savory Peach Pizza With Prosciutto and Mozzarella that can be served as the main event of a meal or cut into smaller pieces for an appetizer! You get extra points if you make your pizza dough from scratch, but you may also skip a few steps by buying fresh pizza dough at the store.
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Butter Lettuce Salad With Pistachio-Peach Vinaigrette
If you’re looking for a simple solution to your overwhelming peach inventory, this Butter Lettuce Salad With Pistachio-Peach Vinaigrette is your answer. Create this delicious pistachio-peach vinaigrette and mix it with a few simple ingredients, including butter lettuce, shaved Manchego cheese and pistachios, and you have an amazing summer salad ready to serve.
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photo Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Grilled Catfish With Peach Salsa
Fish is the perfect summertime dish, especially when paired with The Peach Truck’s famous Fresh Peach Salsa. Try their Grilled Catfish With Peach Salsa, providing an exceptional combination of savory grilled catfish and their sweet peach salsa. Whip up a little extra salsa to serve as a chip dip before the meal!
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Peach Bourbon Old Fashioned
Make your own peach-infused bourbon to use in your homemade Peach Bourbon Old Fashioned, which puts a southern twist on a classic cocktail.
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photo Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Peach Vodka
The cocktail options are endless if you create your own Peach Vodka to mix with a variety of flavors and ingredients! Use this guide to create your own peach vodka comprised of high-quality vodka, sugar, cloves, berries, and of course — peaches.
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photo Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Peach Tart With Ricotta and Honey
Take the traditional peach pie concept to the next level with this Peach Tart With Ricotta and Honey. Serve up to eight guests with this simple and elegant dessert sweetened only with honey and the natural sweetness of peaches! This peach tart tastes as good as it looks sitting on the table.
Photo Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Peach Ricotta Cheesecake With Pecan Crust
Peaches and pecans are a perfect pair. (Say that five times fast!) This Peach Ricotta Cheesecake With Pecan Crust incorporates the best of both ingredients with a gluten-free dessert that is both sweet and light.
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Other Creative Ways To Preserve Peaches
Can ‘Em
Enjoy the sweetness of summer all year long by canning your peaches. Simply place them in syrup (using any of their recommended methods) and use them in dessert or salad recipes in the dead of winter.
Download a PDF Printable Here!
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Freeze ‘Em
You might choose to freeze your peaches instead, which happens to be one of the easiest ways to preserve them throughout the year. Follow The Peach Truck’s lead as they walk you through the process of preparing your fresh peaches to hibernate in the freezer!
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Dry ‘Em
Or you can even dry your peaches to be used as a grab-and-go snack or topping for cereal or granola! This is a unique method for keeping the bold flavor of peaches in your pantry all year long.
Photos Courtesy of The Peach Truck
Some More Delicious Peach Recipes
Peach and Crème Fraîche Pie
This Peach and Crème Fraîche Pie puts a sophisticated twist on a peach pie recipe, featuring a single pie crust, some streusel, hunks of quartered peaches, and crème fraîche. This combination makes for a complex yet easy-to-make dessert filled with peachy goodness.
Photos Courtesy of Smitten Kitchen
Fresh Peach Sorbet
Keep things light with this handmade Fresh Peach Sorbet made with a simple ingredient lineup of peaches, honey, almond milk and lemon zest. We can’t think of anything more refreshing for a hot summer afternoon!
Photos Courtesy of Making Thyme for Health
Have a Peachy Time at the Peach Festival!
Let us know how you plan to use your peaches after the festival — even if it means eating them all the next day!
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