News Release

PIERCETON — The 17th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival in Pierceton will be held Saturday, Aug. 24.

The festival will be held in Brower Park and The Old Train Depot right on State Road 13. The festival kicks off with a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m.

Registration for the 5K will be from 8-8:40 a.m. Saturday or people may pre-register online prior to race day by clicking here. The race will begin at Brower Park.

Activities available during the entire event include an heirloom tomato exhibit and heirloom tomato tastings. Both will be inside The Old Train Depot. Numerous arts and craft vendors will be found in Brower Park alongside food vendors who will be offering fried green tomatoes, tomato sandwiches and homemade ice cream. A kids’ activity area and a farmer’s market will also be found in Brower Park.

The entertainment includes Deb Collier’s Class Act Dance Troupe at noon. Music starts with Cumberland Gap from 10 a.m. until noon and John Potts from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and culminates with Beez & The Rocker from 2:15-4 p.m.

Harpist Anna Hagen will be playing from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pumpernickel Pewter Artists will be performing, and wood sculpture artist Lonnie Gaines will be creating sculptures throughout the day.

Inside The Old Train Depot speakers include Steve Koontz presenting “Lettuce Grow Together” beginning at 10:30 a.m., and Karen Richey presenting “Preserve It Now … Enjoy It Later” at 2 p.m.

Many tomato contests will take place during the festival and are open to the public. These include “The Big, Bad and Ugly” contest where people may bring in their large tomato worm. There will also be the largest (heaviest) tomato contest and a tomato baking contest.

The baking contest will start at 1 p.m. and must include a tomato ingredient. Contest food items will be sold immediately following judging. Rules for the baking contest may be found at www.piercetonchamber.com. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.

An agricultural art show is another contest. People should bring in their agricultural-themed artwork (with any medium accepted). The entry fee is $5 per art piece with no limit on entries or the size of art.

Artwork will be displayed during the festival with winners announced at 3 p.m. People’s Choice will also be awarded. Registration forms will be submitted at the drop off of artwork from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at Taproot Tees and Brewhouse, 130 N. First St. The artwork will be displayed there.

A scavenger hunt will again be offered during the festival. People should pick up their instructions, form and first clue at the information booth located in Brower Park. The hunt starts at 10 a.m. and will end at 4 p.m. One winner will be drawn from all correctly completed forms at 4 p.m. for a cash prize of $250.

New this year will be a Historical Walking Tour of Pierceton lead by historian Joan Hostetler. The tour will begin at 11 a.m. People should meet at the information booth in Brower Park. A $10 donation is suggested for participants of the tour.

The donation benefits the Whitko Community Digital Image Project.

For more information on any of the festival activities, please check out the Facebook page Heirloom Tomato Festival or www.piercetonchamber.com.