THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407270150
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEONA LILLY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The fifth annual Knotts Island Peach Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with a parade through town, and Chesapeake resident Frank Guthrie will be at its helm.
The parade will begin at Wards Road and slowly wind its way to the festival, sponsored by the Knotts Island Ruritan Club, at the Ruritan Community Park on Brumley Road. Guthrie, the Ruritan Club's national vice president and a member of the Hickory Ruritan Club, will be the grand marshal.
Food, drinks, games, rides, crafts and music will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bobby the Clown will be on the grounds both days to entertain.
Knotts Island peach pies and homemade peach ice cream have been among the favorite food items at previous festivals. The pies are made by volunteers, who started preparing them as soon as the peaches began to ripen. They've already made 1,500 for this year's event.
``We make the individual pies up and put them in the freezer until time for the festival,'' said Cassie Hutchinson, spokesman for the group. ``When the booth is ready and the festivities begin, we take them out to the park, as needed, and fry them on the site. We also make peach bread that is sold by the loaf.''
Peach pie, topped with homemade vanilla ice cream, will be available by the slice. Peach and vanilla ice cream made by Bergey's Dairy Farm will be sold, too.
``Bergey makes an extra big batch of homemade peach ice cream every year to ensure us enough to meet the demand,'' Hutchinson said.
Bands scheduled to play include Pure Country, featuring John Keeling; Crossroads; the Buck Fisher Band; and the Revelation Ministries Gospel Singers of Virginia Beach.
The Chesapeake Bay Cloggers will perform both days. Amy Williams, a gospel soloist who signs for the hearing impaired, will be performing Saturday. George Pierce and Judy Jones also will perform.
Proceeds from the event go to the Knotts Island Ruritans for community needs. MEMO: To get to the Knotts Island Peach Festival, follow Princess Anne Road
south in Virginia Beach across the North Carolina border and follow the
road until you come to Knotts Island Road. Turn right. The parade starts
at Wards Road. The festival is nearby at the Ruritan Community Park on
Brumley Road. Follow the signs. There's plenty of parking. Hours are 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. For information, call Gene Johnson, 340-5756.
by CNB