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The Kiwanis Club of Lewiston held a news conference Wednesday at Academy Park in Lewiston to announce what’s new for the 63rd annual Niagara County Peach Festival. The event returns after having to be canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 edition will take place Sept. 9-12 at Academy Park on Center Street.
The first Peach Festival was held in 1958 and, since then, the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston has contributed more than $1.4 million to area charities and organizations from event proceeds.
Niagara County Peach Festival Chairman Dean Beltrano, veteran Peach Festival Advisory Chairman Jerry Wolfgang, former Peach Festival Chairman Marty Pauly and Jim Bittner of Bittner Singer Orchards addressed the media. Samples of the Peach Festival’s “new-look” famous peach shortcake were distributed by the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.
Beltrano said he anticipates a crowd of 38,000 over the four days, weather-permitting. He noted the famous peach shortcake would feature diced peaches this year due to a change in the processing facility where the freshly picked fruit are shipped.
Advance ride tickets are on sale at 40 locations at a 50% discount. Locations can be found on the Peach Festival website at www.lewistonpeachfestival.org/ride-tickets. The full schedule of events is available at www.lewistonpeachfestival.org. (Photos by Mark Williams Jr.)
Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton announced there will be a free COVID-19 vaccination tent on the Peach Festival grounds from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Work continues at the soon-to-be-completed Alphonso DiMino Memorial Bandshell, which will host the Peach Queen pageant and other Peach Festival events.
Students from Niagara County Community College’s Niagara Falls Culinary Institute are assisting the Lewiston Kiwanis Club in peach food-tasting events. Pictured with the famous peach shortcake is Myriah Meyer.
(Photos by Mark Williams Jr.)