Increased police presence at 59th Annual Winona Peach Festival this weekend

Hamilton police and a private security company are increasing their presence at the Winona Peach Festival to keep crowds safe this weekend.

One of the highlights of the summer is underway in our area this weekend, as the Annual Winona Peach Festival opened for its 59th year in a row.

The gates opened Friday afternoon, at the start of Ontario’s Fall Fair season.

Local word is that the peaches are great this year, and organizers are hoping for a great festival.

Organizations prepped their sales tents, arts and crafts booths, the Midway, live music, and the food court for things like peach sundaes.

“At our farm, it’s a fantastic year for peaches,” said Lindsay Puddicombe, of Puddicombe Farms. “It seems to have rained when we needed rain, and we have a huge crop coming off.”

The festival was started 59 years ago as a way to support local non-profit organizations.

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“It was local fruit farmers getting together to just try and have fun, and make a go of it,” said Linda Shuker, former president of the Winona Peach Festival. “The global picture here is the Winona Peach Festival wanting to help people.”

The festival begins on Friday at 5 p.m. and visitors will not be allowed into the park after 9:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

Security will be doing bag checks at the entrances and attendees will also have to go through metal detectors.

“Expect to be on camera. There are some covert cameras all through the property and that’s just to provide safety and security for everybody,” Const. Adam Kimber says.

These security measures were put in place after what Hamilton police are calling “social disorder.”

Two years ago there was a scare when someone was found with a gun at the festival, with concerns about robberies and swarmings at community events.

“You’re going to see that there’s going to be extra security with wand checking, bag checks, just to make sure it’s secure for all the families and friends. Then you’re going to see some great food, great entertainment, midway rides. Everything is geared for family fun,” said Shuker.

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Terry Gudgeon, a director of the festival, says police officers will be at the event both visibly present and undercover.

Gudgeon says about 40 to 60 security guards will be at the festival all day long, with 12 patrolling the park all night.

Extra security ensured that last year’s festival was the first in its history without a single fight.

“Last year we had no major events and we confiscated 81 knives and you don’t get them back, so leave them at home,” Gudgeon says.

The Winona Peach Festival has been around since 1967, with about 100,000 to 150,000 people expected to attend this year.

While admission into the festival is free, there is a charge for the Midway rides.

There is parking available in the area, but festival staff recommend using a Hamilton Street Railway public transport shuttle from Eastgate Square, which can be paid with a food donation.

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