The Peach family will hold a mini-reunion this summer in Gaffney by attending the South Carolina Peach Festival which bears its name.

With his "peachroot" email address, John Peach is well aware of the significance his family name shares with the popular fruit. He will join members of the Peach family for a reunion event while the Peach Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.

"We have members of the Peach family all over the U.S. and Canada. We will hold a mini-reunion of family members from the Kershaw and Camden areas of South Carolina because we are not that far away," John Peach said. "We hoped we would be able to have a reunion of Peach family members from different parts of the country at the Peach Festival...maybe next year."

The South Carolina Peach Festival will take place mainly on the weekends of July 14-15 and July 21-22. Events include a 2-day tractor pull, mud bog, road race, a downtown Family Fun Day and a 30th anniversary Peach Beach concert.

Past performers at Peach Beach have included General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board, Percy Sledge, and Clarence Carter.

Productions chairman Dennis Fowler said this year's Peach Beach entertainment lineup is expected to be announced soon.

"The Peach Beach concert is traditionally the biggest outdoor party of the summer," Fowler said. "The Peach Beach will be the summer's biggest birthday party this year. We will have special entertainment and a large birthday cake to celebrate our 30th anniversary during Peach Beach."

The festival got its start when the Chamber of Commerce held a "Peach Day" in 1976 in downtown Gaffney to celebrate the county's peach industry.

After securing the Peach Festival charter from the City of Greer, community

residents formed a nonprofit board the following year and expanded the "Peach Day" into a weekend of activities. It has grown into an annual festival with events held on weekends throughout July.

The festival will kick off with a 2-day tractor pull July 14-15.

The South Carolina Peach Festival will mark its 30th anniversary on July 22. Activities that day will begin with a Family Fun Day from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the city's downtown area following the morning parade.

The Family Fun Day will include shag dancing, music, cheerleading, rides, an arts and crafts show, a dessert contest, antique tractors and a car show. After the Family Fun Day is over, the festival will end its July 22 activities with the annual Peach Beach concert at its Orchard Park site behind Sunny Slope Farms.