Peach Festival officials shift focus to affordable events

Bowing to a shaky economic outlook, the South Carolina Peach Festival will continue its recent emphasis on low-cost events.

The Peach Festival has no immediate plans in 2009 to hold any high-priced ticket events, such as a tractor pull or concert featuring a major entertainer.

"With the economy going the way it is, we certainly don't know what's going to happen," festival board chairman Carlton Bridges said. "We want to provide family entertainment that we can do without spending a lot of money this year."

Festival board members held a planning workshop Saturday at Carolina Foothills Credit Union to discuss possible events for next year's festival, which is scheduled for July 10-19. Ideas under consideration include a skateboarding tournament, carnival, a gospel singing, a street dance and movie night in Blacksburg.

One event the festival has already added is a barbecue cookoff scheduled for July 17-18 and sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

The festival is banking on drawing in top barbecue teams from across the country to compete in the downtown barbecue competition.

"We are working with the Kansas City Barbecue Society to hold a judge's class early next year," said board member Dennis Stroupe, who is organizing the barbecue cookoff. "The class would teach people the proper techniques for judging barbecue. We hope this class will provide us with some certified local judges for our competition."

The festival board will hold another planning workshop Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon at Carolina Foothills Credit Union to finalize the dates and events for next year's festival.

A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JULY 10: Dessert contest and golf tournament

SATURDAY, JULY 11: Road race, basketball and softball tournaments

TUESDAY, JULY 14: New Talent Night

THURSDAY, JULY 16: Demolition Derby

FRIDAY, JULY 17: Barbecue cookoff, Arts and Crafts Show

SATURDAY, JULY 18: Family Fun Fest

SUNDAY, JULY 19: Community Worship Service