PIERCETON - Looking for a fun festival to attend this summer?
The 17th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival in Pierceton will be Saturday, Aug. 24. The festival will be held in Brower Park and The Old Train Depot right on Ind. 13 in downtown Pierceton.
The festival kicks off with a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Registration for the 5K will be from 8 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, or you may pre-register online prior to race day at runsignup.com. Race will begin at Brower Park.
Many activities available during the entire event include an heirloom tomato exhibit and heirloom tomato tastings. Both will be inside The Old Train Depot. Numerous arts and craft vendors will be found in Brower Park alongside food vendors who will be offering fried green tomatoes, tomato sandwiches and homemade ice cream. A kid’s activity area and a farmers market will also be found in Brower Park.
The entertainment schedule in Brower Park includes Deb Collier’s Class Act Dance Troupe at noon. The music entertainment starts with Cumberland Gap from 10 a.m. until noon, John Potts 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and culminating with Beez & The Rocker from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. Harpist Anna Hagen will be playing from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pumpernickel Pewter Artists will be performing and wood sculpture artist Lonnie Gaines will be creating sculptures throughout the day.
Inside The Old Train Depot speakers include Steve Koontz presenting “Lettuce Grow Together” beginning at 10:30 a.m. and Karen Richey presenting “Preserve It Now …. Enjoy It Later” at 2 p.m.
Many tomato contests will take place during the festival and are open to the public. These include “The Big, Bad and Ugly” tomato worm-bring in your large tomato worm. Largest (heaviest) tomato and a tomato baking contest. The baking contest will start at 1 p.m. and must include a tomato ingredient. Contest food items will be sold immediately following judging. Rules for the baking contest may be found on the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce website, www.piercetonchamber.com. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.
An agricultural art show is another fun contest. Bring in your agricultural themed art work (any medium accepted). Entry fee is $5 per entry (no limit on entries or size of art). Artwork will be displayed during the festival with winners announced at 3 p.m. People's Choice will also be awarded. Registration forms will be submitted at the drop off of artwork on Friday, Aug. 25 from 4 – 8 p.m. Drop-off location and display will be held at Taproot Tee and Brewhouse, 130 N. First St. (Ind. 13). Be sure to stop and vote for your favorite piece of artwork!
A scavenger hunt will again be offered during the festival. Pick up your instructions, form and first clue at the Information Booth located in Brower Park. Hunt starts at 10 a.m. and will end at 4 p.m. One winner will be drawn from all correctly completed forms at 4 p.m. for a cash prize of $250.
For more information on any of the festival activities, check the Facebook page: Heirloom Tomato Festival or the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce website: www.piercetonchamber.org. Plan to spend the day in Pierceton.