Everything’s peachy at Lewiston festival
LEWISTON — The smell of fresh peaches will fill the air — and tempt the taste buds — as summer nears its close next weekend with a September favorite in Academy Park: the annual Kiwanis Peach Festival. .
A farmers’ market will feature peaches of all shapes and sizes, including lots of peach shortcake, the festival favorite.
Jim Bittner’s Farms will provide 6z ton 1/3 of fresh peaches. DiCamillo Bakery will provide the shortcake for the popular fare, which generally sells out before the close of Sunday evening festivities.
The festival started in 1958, when a local farmer, Buster Lombardi, joined with the Lewiston Kiwanis Club to find a way to help Lewiston residents and farmers.
Now, Kiwanis proceeds from the festival are put back into the community.
“For the past 10 years, $500,000 in both goods and services have been contributed to over 50 organizations throughout Niagara County,” Kiwanis Peach Festival Chairman Ernie Krell said.
Since the festival started a half-century ago, the group has donated more than $1 million to the community, Krell said.
But the three-day family festival is more than just peach pie, peach pop, peach cobbler, peach shortcake and produce.
The festival runs from 5 to 11 p. m. Friday, and 11 a. m. to 10 p. m. Saturday and next Sunday. A midway from North American Midway Co. features more than 40 rides. There also will be game booths and food booths.
Entertainment acts are featured on stage all three days in Academy Park and include Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald at 8 p. m. Saturday.
Friday night, area cheerleading groups will participate in the 17th annual Cheerleading Contest at 5 p. m., and a Peach Dessert Recipe Contest will be held at 6 in the Peach Tent.
Saturday will open with a 5K Fun Run at 9 a. m. on Center Street and be followed at 11 by a parade, featuring more than 100 units that will march down Center Street to Academy Park.
Popular children’s contests include the Peach Blossom Contest for little girls Saturday and Peach Fuzz Contest for boys Sunday.
Sunday morning at Lewiston Landing, the Neptune Water Skiers will perform at 11
a. m.
To close out the festival, young women
will vie for the Peach Queen crown at 8 p. m. Sunday evening.
