1931 Peach Festival: "When you want good peaches, come to Romeo!"

The first Peach Festival of 1931 began as a way to promote the local Romeo peach harvests during the economic hardships of The Great Depression. The Festival ran Saturday, September 5th through Monday, the 7th, and in honor, Saturday was named Farmer's Day.

According to the Souvenir Program, First Michigan Peach Festival, 1931:

"One of the days of our Peach Festival and one which will provide entertainment for all classes will particularly be known as Farmer's Day. The Committee feels that to create interest in Rural Districts in the people of municipalities that both classes must be brought to understand one another in a more thorough manner. Therefore by entertaining our cities and especially our rural folks on this day possibly this understanding will be the outcome. It is the desire of everyone to see that history repeats itself, namely the equalization of every class, and the respect of one for the other. This is the one big solution to our present economical situation. In other words relieve your congested cities, give a greater number of men work and increase your buying power. This, our city and country friends, is something for you to think about. It is not injected for the purpose of detracting from the joy you will receive in close contact with our wonderful Peach orchards but is merely done in order that something constructive economically is carried thru by our peach blessing and as a means of explaining why Saturday is dedicated as Farmers Day.
PEACH FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
E. A. Jacob, General Chairman"

The souvenir program describes the history of Romeo orchards, a list of the orchards, and includes the Festival program of events. There are also many wonderful recipes that feature the main attraction--glorious peaches!

"When you want good peaches come to Romeo!!!!"

Visit the Digital Collections page for a downloadable copy of the first ever Peach Festival program.