Winona Peach Festival returns with vendors, rides and tighter security

It began in 1967 and has grown in size each year. The Winona Peach Festival now has over 200 vendors, rides, games and of course peaches.

The festival experienced major safety concerns last year and they’ve spent over $200,000 to address those concerns.

“In response to that we have a higher fence, we also have security coming in and they’re doing bag checks,” said board of directors chair Debbie Bramer.

They aren’t messing around, either. Water bottles, containers and baby items are allowed but no weapons or sharp items. One person tried to bring in a box cutter, saying it was related to her job, and had to leave it outside the fences.

“We don’t want any sharp instruments, so we don’t want knives and that type of thing. So those things may be confiscated because we really just don’t want that in the park,” said Bramer.

Festival organizers expect about 150,000 people to visit over the three-day event to take in all the sights and sounds, but mainly for the fuzzy fruit.

WATCH MORE: Winona Peach Festival boosts security after last year’s violence

“What makes a good peach? Lots of sun, good irrigation, fertilization and love of the trees so that you can make sure they grow nice and big,” said Lindsay Puddicombe from Puddicombe Estates.

Lindsay is an eight generation peach farmer and says the peaches you see at their booth have taken seven weeks to ripen.

“At Puddicombe, the reason our peaches look much different than the peaches you see in the grocery store, we are picking everyday, sorting everyday, and packing everyday and selling within a 24 to 48 hour ratio,” said Lindsay.

With all the vendors to check out and food to be tasted by the time the festival is officially over at 6 p.m. this Sunday, many are just happy to be there.

“This place is massive. There’s everything here. Vendors, there’s rides. It’s as big or bigger as the festivals in Toronto,” said one woman.

“I came to the Peach Festival for all the rides and the good food and lots of peaches and ice cream,” said another man.

WATCH MORE: What to know if you are heading to the Winona Peach Festival