In the early part of the 20th century, the little town of Gilbert was selected to be the first “stump” for would-be politicians to speak and solicit votes for up-coming general elections. Gilbert hosted these first of many county stump meetings at the school auditorium on the 4th of July. The men would gather around the pits all night preparing the barbeque to be served after the morning speaking. The ladies would serve the plates and offer peach pies and cobblers for dessert. Shortly after the end of World War II, the television made its way into the homes of folks and the “era of stumping” came to end. People could see the politicians on their TVs and hear their stands and proposals without sitting all day in an un-airconditioned meeting hall.
In the early ‘50s, when the peach industry was booming in the sand hills of Lexington County, the members of the Gilbert Community Club conceived the idea of hosting a festival to honor peach growers and promote “the queen of all fruits”. The model for the day’s activities was the old stump meeting set-up. |
In the early days of the festival, the morning activities centered around political speeches in the auditorium, the Community Club men barbequed all night, the ladies served the plates and the peach desserts, a Peach Queen contest highlighted the afternoon fun, and a street dance ended the festive day. All of the food was prepared , served, and sold by the members of the Gilbert Community Club.
For 49 years, the Lexington County Peach Festival has continued the basic agenda of political speeches, queen contests, and nighttime dance and concert, but expanded the festivities to include a parade, an arts and crafts show, all day entertainment on three outdoor stages, an antique tractor show, an antique car show, play ground activities for the children, and a fireworks show. And, of course, food, food, food, including peach cobblers, peach ice cream, peach tea, peach slushes, peach floats, and peach sundaes served by the members of the Community Club, and their many friends and relatives who volunteer to help with the concessions sales. |
