The 17th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival was on Saturday, Aug. 24, in Pierceton. Here Penny Terrone, left, and Debi Stiles check out the tomato display in The Old Train Depot.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton was once home to a tomato factory.

Now the town commemorates that heritage with a tomato festival.

The 17th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival was on Saturday, Aug. 24.

There was music from various performers, a variety of vendors and organizations staffing booths and kids’ activities.

As for connections to the event’s featured food, a tomato display was in The Old Train Depot, with people also able to taste different tomatoes and view the winner of the Biggest Heirloom Tomato Contest, a 2-pound, 2.75-ounce specimen brought in by Wade Boggs of Warsaw.

People could also view entries in an agriculture-themed art competition and vote for People’s Choice and go on a scavenger hunt to find a golden tomato.

Pierceton Chamber of Commerce President Kelsea DeGaetano said the tomato festival is “always an amazing day in town with a great turnout for vendors, things to see and participate in and a great day for visitors to enjoy our town.”

Chamber of Commerce Secretary Georgia Tenney noted the weather Saturday was perfect for the festival.

“The weather has been beautiful,” she said. “Our first band was called Cumberland Gap, and they were a bluegrass band, and they brought in a lot of people to see them.”

Tenney and Chamber of Commerce Board Member Dr. Susan Mort noted they sold many tomato sandwiches at the Chamber’s booth.

“I think the festival this year has been well-attended. There’s been people from out of town,” said Tenney. “It’s been a great festival.”