Fort Loudon celebrates August's sunny fruit with peach festival

FORT LOUDON >> Two events that have become crowd-pleasers at the annual Peach Festival in Fort Loudon will return this year, when the festival shines from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 15 at Fort Loudon Community grounds.

The fifth annual Peach Festival will again feature both an art show and the auction.

Artwork will be on display from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fort Loudon Community Center, 142 Mullen St.

Last year 36 pieces of high quality artwork were exhibited, including pieces by some familiar area artists: Linda Best, Glen Sabetto, Laura Shindle, Dan Weeks, Linda Moseman and Anne Harvey.

Anne Gobin will be seated at her easel throughout the day to demonstrate her style of painting.

Each year, a Favorite Artist and Favorite Painting awards are presented to artists. In 2014, Dan Weeks won the Favorite Painting award and Linda Best, the Favorite Artist award.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Linda Best at 717-369-2249 orlmb402@comcast.net.

The auction will take place beginning at 1 p.m. in the pavilion on the community grounds at U.S. 30 and Hawbaker Drive.

Jeannie Pepple will be the auctioneer.

Among the items donated for the auction are a framed, signed and numbered James Smith print "Firing on Fort Loudoun"; a 1953 copy of the Fort Loudon Sesquicentennial booklet; a hand carved wooden cane by Rick Rotz; a cheese box hand painted by Dixie Hoover; an autographed copy of Heritage Hill Farm Cookbook; a wooden snowman Christmas card holder; quilted Christmas tree skirts; a quilted floral handbag; a tote bag with Mary Kay products; a king-size sheet set; an "Amazing Grace" wall hanging; a tote bag filled with dog treats and supplies; a decorative jar with wax melts; a crib quilt; a ceramic cookie jar; a Longaberger Gatehouse basket; a blue ceramic watering can with greenery; a painted tin planter with garden supplies; gift certificates from area businesses and more.

Admission and parking are free.

Schedule

8 a.m.: Breakfast served. More than 70 arts, crafts and home-based business vendors open their booths, and the Pennsylvania Wood Mobile Exhibit opens, as does The Giant Peach, for photo opportunities. Ryan Walls Racing Team will have Car No. 39 on display for the day. The Wood Mobile, said to Anna Rotz, is a project of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Hardwood Development Council, which is used to promote the state's hardwood industry.

9 a.m.: Art Show opens, and children's activities begin: Barrel train rides, face painting, Giant Castle Moon Bounce and other games, such as goldfish pitch, milk can toss and more.

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Ed Asbury will offer information about child identification and car seat safety. He will also have a marked police car on site. Local musician John Brink will perform gospel music; and finally, the local Breast Fairy will begin distributing educational material about breast cancer

11 a.m.: Wacky Wizard Magic Show will begin, Smokey Bear and Ranger Lynn will talk with guests about forest fires, and Kindly Canines Therapy Dogs will greet visitors, as well.

Noon-2 p.m.: Willy Bill the clown will make animal balloons and Shippensburg Swing Band will perform.

1 p.m.: Auction begins in pavilion

All day: Enjoy peach pie, cobbler, sundaes and cream puffs as well as sandwiches, french fries, funnel cakes, kettle corn and drinks.

Take lawn chairs to enjoy the music and entertainment, and have a relaxing day in the country.

The event is sponsored by Trinity United Church of Christ, Fort Loudon.

STAR RECIPE CONTEST

The best recipes in the world are those that feature locally-grown products.

Chambersburg peaches are known for their juicy flavor, tomatoes star in their own taste-testing day (Aug. 22 this year) and apples trees are heavy with their forthcoming harvest.

In an effort to continue eating fresh in Franklin County, a new publication, "The Franklin County Fresh Food & Dining Guide" is slated to be released in the fall. Published by Franklin County Visitors Bureau, the publication will offer sources for local farms and fresh food , stories about local restaurants and businesses and -- without a doubt -- local recipes.

From delicious peach cobbler, paired with home made Franklin County ice cream, to fresh-chopped salsa or apple dumplings, recipes featuring peaches, tomatoes or apples are welcomed by the visitors bureau for its fruit recipe contest. Submitted recipes must have at least once of the ingredients featured in the dish but may have all ingredients if the recipe calls for it.

Submissions, including photographs of the finished recipes, will be accepted three ways:

• by emailing lcappuccio@explorefranklincountypa.com;

• by mailing the visitors bureau at 37 S. Main St., Suite 100, Chambersburg, Pa., 17201;

• or by dropping them off at the above address.

Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 31.

Public voting for the public's favorite recipes will take place on FCVB's website, www.explorefranklincountypa.com, and Facebook page, Facebook.com/FCVBen. The top three vote-getting recipes will be published in the new food and dining guide, which will be distributed throughout the county and along Interstate 81.

The person submitting the top recipe will also receive a cash prize of $50.

For more information, call 1-866-646-8060 or 717.552.2977.