The first Saturday in October presents the annual peanut festival. So many people think that Georgia is THE peanut place. But, Williston and a few surrounding towns near Gainesville are huge peanut producers. The peanut cars remind me of small open train cars (like coal carriers). Usually one good sized pickup will haul two tandem trailers at a time from the fields to one of the local peanut processing plants (Williston Peanut, etc.).
This is harvest time. Thus, there must be a festival.
One hundred and thirty six vendors. Not for profits including animal rescues—WAG and Feisty Acres—dogs and cats respectively; Veterans’ groups; AARP. Local professionals—doctors, lawyers. Local businesses. Crafters. The Local Chamber of Commerce (sponsors and organizers of the festival). Games and rides for the kids. Tractor display. The not for profits and crafters had some really nice things to sell. WAG had dogs for adoption!
In many towns around the country, various fund raisers have come about by various animals painted in themes, displayed around the town and eventually auctioned. There have been dogs, cats, pigs, cows, horses, moose and probably just about any animal of which one might think. Since Williston’s claim to fame is peanuts, a take-off on the animal idea came about a few years ago. Williston has, you guessed it, larger than life (that is people life, obviously, much larger than life for peanuts) themed peanuts. This was done several years ago, but several of these artistic peanut “statues” are brought out for the festival. One of my favorites is “I will work for peanuts.”
And, of course, lots of food. Many organizations had mini bake sales—all kinds of breads, cakes, pies, candy, fudge. Then, there’s always the traditional hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, funnel cakes, snow cones and ices. A new way of marketing snow cones was there. To me, it was very pricey, but fun to watch. One apparently buys the tin full of ice. The customer than goes to the side of the display where there are miniature faucets. Above the faucets are various clear tubes bubbling with all kinds of colored flavorings (all nicely marked with its flavor). The flavor faucet is pulled over the ice. The display was a bit of a show within itself. Fun.
The kettle korn, however, in my opinion, was boring. Nothing like the way we do it. Since we always dress in old timey clothes, I think a lot of the entertainment factor disappears when the vendor wears today’s clothing—jeans, tee shirts, sneakers. Guess I am a bit of a snob when it comes to our business. I also feel the presentation of the preparation is boring. I believe our big OLD cast iron kettle which Steve flips over when the batch is done and at which time I yell, scream, ring cow bells is much more fun to watch. Many do it in a mass production manner with no “show” at all. Ho Hum! The kettle korn guy at this event ran out of product, not a good thing to do. We did it twice in our career and never lived it down. Once was in Massachusetts; once in South Florida. Those folks never forgave us!
Oh, and did I mention this was a peanut festival???!!!?? Of course, there has to be peanuts…in every way imaginable. Peanut pies. Peanut butter fudge. Boiled peanuts. Roasted peanuts. Raw peanuts. Peanut butter—creamy and crunchy. Peanut brittle. Sugar coated peanuts. Cakes with peanuts. Frosting with peanuts. Twenty-five pound bags. Fifty pound bags. (Steve noticed that by mid afternoon the twenty five pound bags were sold out.)
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