H.O. Headley, Chilton County grower, and "Red" Glasscock, County Extension Agent, examine peach crop during 1950s Photo courtesy Clanton Lions Club |
Chilton County Peach Festival
Held each year in June since 1947 at the beginning
of the peach season, the Chilton County Peach Festival was
originated to promote the local peach industry; it has had a
significant economic impact on this area of Alabama. This popular
fruit has a long history. The Chinese were thought to have
domesticated the peach before it spread to Western Europe, where
the tree flourished and became a delicacy enjoyed by royalty and
the wealthy. The tree was brought to the New World by the
Spaniards; some believe that Hernando DeSoto, traveling down the
Coosa River in the 1500s, was responsible for bringing peaches to
Chilton County. Today, many varieties of peaches have been
developed by cross-pollination and grafting. The Elberta peach, one
of the most popular and well-known varieties, is considered to have
been developed in the South.
Enjoying mild winters and warm summers, Chilton
County boasts a climate hospitable to peach-growing, and has made
the peach industry a mainstay of its economy. At its peak, there
were as many as 10,000 acres of peach orchards in Chilton County.
In the years since 1947, the festival has expanded to a week-long
celebration featuring several events: the Peach Pageant, the Peach
Art Show, the Peach Parade and the Peach Auction. The Peach Pageant
currently awards prizes for four different age groups: Miss Peach,
Junior Miss Peach, Young Miss Peach and Little Miss Peach.
Sponsored each year by the Peoples Southern Bank of Clanton, the
Peach Art Show awards prizes in the Junior and Adult categories to
Chilton County artists. On the morning after the Peach Pageant, the
Peach Parade is held, featuring floats and cars carrying local
dignitaries and state and federal officials. The Peach Auction,
taking place at the city park complex immediately after the parade,
showcases Chilton County peach growers, who bring their finest
peaches for judging on size, color, quality and taste. The top ten
growers are awarded cash prizes, and the winning baskets, along
with all other baskets that were entered, are auctioned to the
highest bidder. Money raised goes to underprivileged children of
the county and to fund a scholarship for the Miss Peach Pageant.
The Chilton Peach Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary in
1997.
Documentation for the project includes 6-page written
report, six historic black-and-white and ten color 8 x 10 historic
photographs, a newspaper section from the Clanton
Advertiser devoted to the 1999 Festival, 3 copies of the
Chilton County News tabloid covering the 1997 50th
anniversary festival, a program from the 1997 festival, and a
videotape, "The Choice is Chilton County," produced by the Chilton
County Area Chamber of Commerce.
Originally submitted by: Bob Riley, Representative (3rd District).
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