Pigs and Peaches festival enamors guests with hometown charm

On August 26 and 27, the City of Kennesaw held the 16th annual Pigs and Peaches festival in Adams Park. The two-day party showcases hundreds of local businesses, from barbecue restaurants to local craft stores, as well as provides live music, a barbecue cook-off, and entertainment for kids.

Each stand presented products with pride and enthusiasm to passing customers.

Erica Franco, an employee at downtown Kennesaw’s new barbecue restaurant, “The Nest,” enjoys her time representing at the event.

“It’s really fun. Last year we actually got runner-up in the Pigs and Peaches [festival],” Franco said.

Gallery • 13 Photos

Kat Shambaugh

The City of Kennesaw kicked off the event with a courtesy shuttle that ran between Kennesaw Elementary, Swift Cantrell, and the entrance to the festival to ease parking stress on the city. The event requires major parking control due to the large number of guests. “From its humble beginnings, Pigs & Peaches has grown into one of the region’s most beloved festivals attracting an estimated 65,000 attendees annually,” the website said.

Citizens expressed their gratitude to the participating businesses by purchasing presented products. Whole Foods, arriving soon on the corner of Cobb Parkway and Barrett Parkway, attracted new customers by handing out watermelon and strawberries covered in basil. The snacks left attendees hungry for more and eager to visit the new establishment.

“Pigs and peaches was great! It’s a fantastic way for our local community to come together and share food, music, and fun,” Dylan Kellos, a senior at NC, said.

Moreover, children enjoyed games, face painting, and bounce houses provided at the festival while parents withstood the humid Georgia heat. Games such as “pick up the duck” especially attracted children. For five dollars, a contestant won a stuffed animal prize, whether a win or not.

Free performances by a number of dance studios, singers, and bands delighted festival participants and functioned as a way to cool off from the scorching heat.

“I really love living in Kennesaw because the people are great and there is always some type of festival going on. The music is amazing and the food is always something I look forward to!” Taylor Campbell, a junior at NC, said.

High in the sky, helicopter tours fly over Kennesaw, looping the sky, taking off from the softball field at Adams Park for $30 each.

In the end, the city treated festival goers to a fireworks show to finalize the festival at 10 p.m. on Saturday night.