The Patrick County Chamber of Commerce Board opted to nix the annual Peach Festival in August, which marked the second year the event will not be held due to the pandemic.
Rebecca Adcock, executive director of the chamber and vice-mayor of the Town of Stuart, said planning for the event begins in May. However, COVID-19 restrictions were influx. It was unknown which restrictions would remain in place by August.
“The board also felt that it wouldn’t be good for chamber to go out and ask for sponsorship when all of our businesses and our community is trying to recover and get back on track,” she said.
Since the vote, the chamber has also learned that the last hard freeze the county has affected almost all the peach orchards in the Ararat area.
To make up for the lack of festival, Adcock said the chamber will be primarily promoting Wade’s Orchard and the fruit stand in Woolwine.
“They have in the past done some music or family days at the fruit stand, usually in September, and I have told them to keep me updated on those events,” she said, adding peaches also may be available at the Farmers’ Market in Stuart.
The chamber will host a job fair in August to try and help local companies regroup and attract needed employees, she said.
