PIERCETON - The 16th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival will be held Saturday in Brower Park and the Old Train Depot, both located in downtown Pierceton.
The festival will begin with a 5K Run/Walk with registration from 8 to 8:40 a.m. with the run/walk starting at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $25. The race will begin and end at Brower Park.
Among the many activities planned throughout the day include an heirloom tomato and vegetable exhibit, heirloom tomato tastings, kids activity area, arts and crafts booths, farmers’ market, tomato sandwich social, Pumpernickel Pewter Artists and food vendors including home-made ice cream and fried green tomatoes.
Featured speakers will be Jamie Perry and Aleah Southworth presenting the program ”Soil Health in Urban Agriculture,” with Rebekah Bailey presenting “Taste the Wild Side: An Introduction to Foraging Local Wild Foods.” They will be speaking inside The Old Train Depot with Perry and Southworth presenting at 10:30 a.m. and Bailey speaking at 2 p.m.
An agricultural art show is another event being held during the festival. Bring your agricultural related art to the Taproot Brewhouse and Company, 130 N. First St. (Ind. 13), Pierceton, on Friday between 4 and 8 p.m. All media is accepted and there will be two separate categories judged, adult and youth. No limit on the number of entries or size of your art. There will be a $5 fee per entry. Cash prizes will be awarded, including a People’s Choice Award. Artwork will be displayed during the Heirloom Tomato Festival with winners announced at 3 p.m.
Bring your baked good - which must have a tomato as an ingredient - for the Heirloom Tomato Baking Contest. Contest will be held in the Old Train Depot. Judging will be at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded. Samples of the items in the contest will be sold after judging.
The Big, Bad and Ugly Tomato Worm Contest – bring in your ugliest tomato worm. Contest will be located inside the Old Train Depot. Bring in your heaviest tomato for the largest (heaviest) tomato contest, which will also be held in the Old Train Depot.
Returning this year is a “Find the Golden Tomato” scavenger hunt. Stop by the information booth in Brower Park to begin your journey to find the Golden Tomato. All who complete the hunt will be entered into a drawing for $250.
Live entertainment will be featured during the day on the main stage in Brower Park. Performing will be Jarred Pagan from 10 to 11:45 a.m., John Potts from noon to 1:45 p.m. and Josh Tenzigloski from 2 to 4 p.m.
Special demonstrations include Merle & Suzanne Miller “Pumpernickel Pewter” artists, T.A.G. entertainers and Class Act Troupe. All demonstrations will be in Brower Park.
More information can be found at www.piercetonchamber.com or Heirloom Tomato Festival page on Facebook.