Tomatoes of all sizes, shapes and colors take center stage at Pierceton’s annual Heirloom Tomato Festival, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 23. Photo provided by the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce.

News Release

PIERCETON — The 18th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in Brower Park and the Old Train Depot in downtown Pierceton.

If you love tomatoes, this is your festival. There will be many activities, music, speakers, contests, food, and art and craft vendors planned for the day.

Harpist Anna Hagen will be performing throughout the day in Brower Park during the Heirloom Tomato Festival on Aug. 23. Photo provided by the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce.

The festival kicks off with a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Registration will be in Brower Park from 8-8:40 a.m. on race day. You may also preregister online at runsignup.com. Online preregistration ends at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. The fee for the 5K is $25.

This year’s festival features activities for all ages. There will be a display of many varieties of heirloom tomatoes, as well as an heirloom vegetable exhibit, Tomato Sandwich Social, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, fried green tomatoes, homemade ice cream, tomato tastings, a farmer’s market and activities for children in the kids activity area.

A variety of contests are planned too.

A scavenger hunt will start at 10 a.m. Pick up your scavenger hunt form at the information booth in Brower Park. Follow the clues and find the golden tomato. All correctly completed forms will be collected, with one drawn for a $250 prize. Scavenger hunt forms must be turned in by 4 p.m.

If you are a gardener, there are have several contests for you. Bring in your tomato worm to see which is the ugliest. If you have large or weirdly shaped tomatoes, bring them in. There will be prizes for the heaviest tomato and the strangest shaped tomato. If you love to cook or bake, there will be a tomato baking contest with two categories: sweet and savory. Your baked item must contain a tomato. Items will be judged at 1 p.m. Contest food items will be sold immediately following the judging. Tomato contests and the baking contest will be held inside the Old Train Depot.

New this year will be a cherry tomato spitting contest to be held at 2:30 p.m. in Brower Park.

Artists are invited to participate in the agricultural art show. All art mediums will be accepted; however, your art piece must have an agricultural theme. Drop off your artwork on Friday, Aug. 22, at the Old Train Depot. Artwork will be accepted from 4-8 p.m. There is a fee of $5 per piece of artwork. Judging will be completed by 3 p.m. Saturday.

A fan favorite from last year will be returning again this year. Historian Joan Hostetler will offer a walking history tour of Pierceton. Meet at the information booth at 11 a.m. to begin the tour.

Educational speakers include Dave Shenefield of Clover Blossom Honey. He will share his expertise on honeybees from 10:30-11 a.m. Maia Ross of Honey Bee Ambrosia will give her program on “What’s up with the rise of sourdough” from noon to 12:30 p.m. Karen Welsh will be conducting a free botanical print make-it-and-take-it craft program from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The speaker tent will be located in Brower Park.

Special guest, Mrs. Kate, will perform many of her original songs for young and old. She will perform two shows, at 11:30 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Mrs. Kate’s performances will be held in the pavilion in Brower Park.

Deb Collier’s Class Act Dance Troupe will perform at 11 a.m. in the street near the Old Train Depot. Also performing throughout the day in Brower Park will be harpist Anna Hagen.

Musical entertainment can be found on the stage in the park with Cumberland Gap, a bluegrass/gospel bluegrass band, taking the stage from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Josh Elam will entertain from 12:45-1:45 p.m. Mike & Katie will complete the day from 2-4 pm.

New this year will be the raffling of a tomato quilt donated by Aleta Baker Smith. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Tickets may be purchased at the information booth. The heirloom tomatoes on display will also be raffled for $1 each.

Festival visitors also will have the chance to visit the shops and restaurants in town, many of which will be featuring specials for the Tomato Festival.

The festival committee is grateful to the following sponsors who have helped make the festival possible: Camden Foundation Technologies, Magnum Piering, Hartly Builders, EF Rhoades/Cottage Watchman, Lake City Bank, Himes & Krull, Paragon Medical, M&D Electrical, Kelly Jo’s, Stumps LP Gas, R&G Auto Truck Repair Inc., Hankins & Boggs Group, Old Train Depot, Sweetheimer Trash, Jeff Miller, Homespun House and the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, visit piercetonchamber.com, or follow the event on Facebook at Heirloom Tomato Festival.