Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON – The 18th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday in Brower Park and The Old Train Depot in downtown Pierceton.
If you love tomatoes, this is your festival. There will be many activities, music, speakers, contests, food, art and craft vendors planned for the day. The festival kicks off with a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Registration will be in Brower Park from 8 to 8:40 a.m. on race day. You may also pre-register online at runsignup.com. Online pre-registration ends at 6 p.m. on Friday. Fee for the 5K is $25, according to a provided news release.
This year’s festival is filled with activities for all ages. Activities taking place throughout the day include a display of many varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Also an heirloom vegetable exhibit, Tomato Sandwich Social, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, fried green tomatoes, homemade ice cream, tomato tastings, farmers market and activities for children in the kids activity area.
There are a variety of contests this year. A scavenger hunt will start at 10 a.m. Pick up your scavenger hunt form at the Information Booth located in Brower Park. Follow the clues and find the golden tomato. All correctly completed forms will be collected with one drawn for a $250 prize. Scavenger Hunt forms must be turned in by 4 p.m.
If you are a gardener, we have several contests for you. Bring in your tomato worm to see which is the ugliest. If you have large or weirdly shaped tomatoes, bring them in. We will have a prize for the heaviest tomato and the strangest shaped tomato. If you love to cook or bake, there will be a tomato baking contest with two categories, sweet and savory.
Your baked item must contain a tomato. Items will be judged at 1 p.m. Contest food items will be sold immediately following the judging. Tomato contests and the baking contest will be held inside The Old Train Depot. New this year will be a cherry tomato spitting contest to be held at 2:30 p.m. in Brower Park.
A fan favorite from last year will be returning again this year. Historian Joan Hostetler will offer a walking history tour of Pierceton. Meet at the information booth at 11 a.m. to begin the tour.
Educational speakers include Dave Shenefield of Clover Blossom Honey. He will share his expertise on honeybees from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Maia Ross of Honey Bee Ambrosia will give her program on “What’s up with the rise of sourdough” from noon to 12:30 p.m. Karen Welsh will be conducting a free botanical print Make It and Take It craft program from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. The speaker tent will be located in Brower Park.
Special guest Mrs. Kate will perform many of her original songs for young and old. She will perform two shows, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mrs. Kate’s performances will be held in the Pavilion in Brower Park.
Deb Collier’s Class Act Dance Troupe will perform at 11 a.m. in the street near The Old Train Depot. Also performing throughout the day in Brower Park will be harpist Anna Hagen.
Musical entertainment can be found on the stage in the park with Cumberland Gap, a bluegrass/gospel bluegrass band will be taking the stage from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Josh Elam will entertain from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. Mike & Katie will complete the day from 2 to 4 pm.
New this year will be a tomato quilt raffle, generously donated by Aleta Baker Smith. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Tickets may be purchased at the Information Booth. The heirloom tomatoes on display will also be raffled for $1 each for all of the tomatoes in the display.
The Heirloom Tomato Festival will be held in Brower Park and The Old Train Depot on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Before you leave Pierceton, be sure to peruse the wonderful shops and restaurants in town. Many will be having specials during the Tomato Festival.
The festival committee would like to thank our sponsors: Camden Foundation Technologies, Magnum Piering, Hartly Builders, EF Rhoades/Cottage Watchman, Lake City Bank, Himes & Krull, Paragon Medical, M & D Electrical, Kelly Jo’s, Stumps LP Gas, R & G Auto Truck Repair, INC., Hankins & Boggs Group, Old Train Depot, Sweetheimer Trash, Jeff Miller, Homespun House, Pierceton Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit Piercetonchamber.org or follow Facebook at Heirloom Tomato Festival.
