History of the Louisiana Peach Festival

There’s no doubt that the Louisiana Peach Festival brings about a time of excitement in the town of Ruston, LA. From a weekend full of festivities, awesome food, and great laughter, it is an event that you do not want to miss. With great success comes great history that dates back many years.

The festival was born in the late 1930s when several commercial peach orchards were located in Lincoln Parish. In 1947, the area peach growers organized the Louisiana Fruit Growers Association. In 1951, the decision was made to promote their industry by spreading word throughout Louisiana and surrounding states of the excellent taste of Lincoln Parish Peaches.

Through extensive hours of planning and sleepless nights for several months, plans to hold an annual Louisiana Peach Festival were placed on the drawing board in June 1951 by J. E. Mitcham, president of the Louisiana Fruit Growers Association, and Walter Smith, chairman of the first Louisiana Peach Festival. Advertisements were placed everywhere from newspapers, to banners, and placards headlining the popular Dixie gem peach.

The first Peach festival was held on June 27-28, 1951, and achieved far greater success than any of the sponsors expected. The event consisted of “Peaches and Posies” flower show, a peach cookery contest, an art show, several athletic tournaments, and the crowning of the First Queen Dixie Gem and Princess Peach.

It was no surprise that the Louisiana Peach festival grew in size and popularity. In 1952, its activities doubled in attendance. In its third year, the festival won national attention when Queen Dixie Gem III, Dorothy Elta Goff, traveled to Washington D.C to present then Vice President Richard Nixon a box of peaches.

After years of success, the festival began taking a turn for the worst as financial issues began to arise. The worsening national financial recession of the early 1980s threatened the future of the festival. In May 1982, three former festival chairmen reluctantly forecast the collapse of the event stating that if additional funds were not provided, the festival's days would be limited. At one time, the state contributed to the Louisiana Peach Festival; however, the festival had been financed independently, and each year the directors of the Association were forced to seek additional sources of money. Through God’s grace, the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and many other individuals came to the aid and the 1982 festival was held.

The uncertain conditions surrounding the 1982 Festival spurred the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce into action. In January 1983, the Chamber voted to accept and sponsor the Louisiana Peach Festival with the Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau. Concerns were still questioned on how to fund an even bigger and better festival. By the 1990s, the festival included an arts and crafts show, a rodeo, and the events spread over a 2-week period. The festival continues to draw large number of attendees even though the festival has been shortened to a weekend event. It continues to pump around $2 million in the local economy.

Volunteer Information

PEACHtober 2020 will be here before we know it. We would like to invite you to become part of the single largest event in our community by joining our Volunteer Program. We encourage you to sign up with family, friends, or co-workers who you are in contact with as to avoid being scheduled with strangers. This will help in our efforts to stay safe from COVID.

The 2020 festival will be held on Saturday, October 24. This moved from the original June date was made due to COVID-19.

Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to our community - plus it's just plain fun to visit with folks you haven't seen in a while. The Peach Festival is the perfect opportunity to get your family or your staff to volunteer together in a community-wide event. Our volunteer program partners you with the festival staff and other volunteers to become part of a team that brings the festival to life. There is plenty to do, both behind the scenes, as we get ready for the festival and during the event. Volunteer shifts are three hours. Each volunteer will receive a special volunteer t-shirt and a weekend pass. During the festival, there will be a volunteer tent that will be stocked with cool water, food, and refreshments for our volunteers staff.

Applications are processed and assignments made on a first-come, first-serve basis. No applications will be accepted on event days. If you need additional information, please contact the Chamber at (318) 255-2031 or email volunteer@rustonlincoln.org

Regional Orchards

North-Central Louisiana offers a peach-perfect climate for growing delicious peaches and other produce. Visit any of the excellent orchards and farms in our region for fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year.
Fresh peaches are available during peach season.

Vendor Applications

Please call (318) 255-2031 for vendor information.

Exhibitor Registration Forms

Exhibitor contests are now closed.

Performer Online Registration

Event Registration Forms

Please check back later for 2021 Event Forms.