The weekend of Aug. 10 and 11 is bound to be a sweet one in the Old Town, when Niagara-on-the-Lake’s peach festivals of the Chamber of Commerce and St. Vincent de Paul Church make everything just peachy.
The Chamber of Commerce Peach Festival is Saturday, Aug.10, from 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. They will host their popular peach pie contest. Pies are due in the lower level of the Court House between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Aug. 10 for a 12 p.m. judging. One pie only, with tasting notes, is to be provided.
Emelyn Williams, manager of events at the Chamber of Commerce & Tourism NOTL, said “this year we are excited to feature over 40 local businesses, our Sips of Summer drink patio, live entertainment from Toronto All-Star Big Band, DJ Vonny V, and more.”
“We will have family-friendly activities, like an interactive art project called Peach Orchard Landscape, presented by the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, restored antique tractors on display, face painting, glitter tattoos and other fun activities for kids of all ages,” she said.
At St. Vincent de Paul, 73 Picton Street, they will be celebrating their 35th year hosting a peach festival, said co-chairs Sharyn and Terry Choules. “We will have everything peach,” said Terry. “Peach pies for sale, sundaes, crepes, peach pie with ice cream, a bake table.”
They have ordered 500 pies from Sweetie Bakery in St. Catharines, using Niagara peaches, and Terry promised that the pies this year will have “more peaches in them compared to other years.” The aging population of the church’s bakers, and the hours needed by more than 100 volunteers to put the festival together, are the reasons they have outsourced the pie making.
For the first time, said Sharyn, NOTL’s Fire and Emergency Services will have a booth to promote fire prevention.
A kids’ area will include face painting, and balloon-making by annual favourite, Hal Grant of Halaloo.
PigOut Catering will offer lunch time fare and NOTL’s Cupcakes by Laura will be donating its proceeds back to the church. Terry explained that money raised “will go to the church hall for renovations, bringing it up to par.” They are also saving funds for their 200th year anniversary in 2026.
Jon Libera will provide musical entertainment while people browse the popular Hidden Treasures Bazaar Table.
Sharyn said they have a raffle with three beautiful prizes: A Vintage Hotels two-night stay, a 124 Q hydrotherapy massage and a certificate at their restaurant, and a helicopter tour of Niagara Falls.
St. Vincent de Paul’s Peach Festival is Sunday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
After the peach festival at St Vincent de Paul, it’s back to Queen Street where the Chamber of Commerce is offering its Shades of Rosé, celebrating local VQA, Aug. 11 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Queen Street. Celebrating everything pink, diners can enjoy a pink dance floor coupled with the grooving music of George St. Kitts Band.
“Our guests go all out with elaborate tablescape decor, the ultimate pink outfits and fashion accessories,” said Williams. And the band “always gets the crowd up and dancing.”
Book your table at niagaraonthelake.com/shadesofrose.