The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has announced plans for the third annual Peach Week celebration in Moore County. Peach Week will run from July 18-27 and feature an array of special events highlighted by a Restaurant Week, where people can vote for their favorite peach experience in a number of categories with a chance to win a $250 gift card.
Nearly 40 restaurants, specialty outlets and food trucks are taking part in the Peach Week promotion, but ticketed as well as complementary events include the Run Your Peach Off 5K Fun Run with First Health Fitness, Third Thursday in Aberdeen featuring the Engine Room 87, train from the Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway (ACWR), ACWR’s Journey in Time dinner train highlighting a peach-themed menu, foodie and trolley tours, food truck challenge at Red’s Corner, Putt n’ Peach mini golf at Wee Pines at Olmsted Village, Peach A’ Palooza at James Creek Cider House, Power Cars and Peaches during Peach Night with the Sandhills Bogeys and Ben Chapman performing at the Sunrise Theater. It’s all capped off by the Peachgrass Festival at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities.
“We have been blown away by the way this fun event has grown in its first three years,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, in a press release. “Because we leverage the (peach) juice from the N.C. Peach Festival in Candor, and the success of the first two years of Peach Week, we have seen a record number of participating restaurants and events this year. This is truly a celebration of all things peaches with something fun for everyone of all ages to experience.”
Participating Peach Week restaurants, specialty outlets and food trucks will be offering one or more of six peach-inspired categories, including breakfast, appetizer/salad, main entree, desserts, beer/wine and beverage (adult or non-alcohol). Attendees can vote for their favorite peach creations throughout the promotion by scanning the voting panel QR code found on all Peach Week fliers.
Participating businesses include: ACWR, Agora Bakery & Café, Ashten’s Restaurant, Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. (BHAWK), Chef Warren’s, Cookies-n-Moore, Cork, Dewberry Café, Drum and Quill, Elliotts on Linden, Elliotts Provisions, Hatchet Brewing Co., High Octane, Ironwood Café, James Creek Cider House, Maisonette, Mason’s Restaurant and Grocery, Maxie’s Grill & Taproom, Pik n’ Pig, Pizzeria Grazia, PL8TE at Pinehurst No. 8, Railhouse Brewery, Red Bowl Asian Bistro, Red’s Corner, Saucy Cravings food truck, Sly Fox Pub, Southern Pines Brewing Co., Southern Pines Growler Co., Table on the Green, Tanglewood Farm food truck, The Bakehouse, The Bell Tree Tavern, The Buggy Factory, The Whale Tea, The Workshop Tavern, Time Out Sports Grill, Watering Cans Wine, and Wolcott’s.
New this year: Get a “Pick Your Peach” Card! Visit any Peach Week participating location and pick up a special card, so you can earn stamps with any purchase. Once stamps have been earned from five different participating Peach Week establishments, simply return the fully-stamped card to the CVB office in downtown Southern Pines and be entered in a drawing to win a $250 gift card to any Peach Week location.
Other individual events are scheduled as follows. For full details and how to purchase specific tickets for those events, visit the official Peach Week event page at: https://www.homeofgolf.com/peach-week/. The event page also showcases specific peach menu items to be offered at each location, so peach lovers can plan their favorite peachy experiences.
Friday, July 17 | 5-8 p.m.
Third Thursday Featuring Engine Room 87
Downtown Aberdeen
Hosted by the town of Aberdeen ACWR, enjoy live music and family-fun activities within the social district. Entertainment provided by Terminally Chill.
Saturday, July 18-20
Journey in Time Peach Dinner Train
ACWR
Be sure to book your reservation for this special peach-themed three-course meal while riding through the Sandhills aboard luxurious and historic passenger railcars.
Saturday, July 19 | Starting at 5 p.m.
Power Cars & Peaches with the Sandhills Bogeys
Bogeys Field, Sandhills Community College
The Sandhills Motoring Expo will stage a vintage car show prior to the season finale of the Sandhills Bogeys baseball season. Take in the free car show, then take in the ball game.
Saturday, July 19 | 7 p.m. (Gates open at 6 p.m.)
Peach Night with the Sandhills Bogeys
Bogeys Field, Sandhills Community College
It’s Peach Night with the Sandhills Bogeys baseball team. Cheer the Bogeys on to victory and perhaps a spot in the postseason in their season finale. Free peach ice cream will be provided by Stellar Scoops to the first 100 ticket holders. Also, free popcorn for the first 100 people.
Saturday, July 19 | 4 -6 p.m.
Sandhills Trolley Talk Peachy to Me
We’ll be sippin’, ridin’, and decidin’ who’s got the juiciest peach drink in the Pines. Must be 18 years of age, or older to participate.
Saturday, July 19 and 26 | 1-3:30 p.m.
Peach Week Walking Foodie Tours
This 2.5-hour walking tour features five stops at local restaurants, breweries and coffee shops, highlighting delicious food, sweet treats and a plethora of history. Food may vary from tour to tour.
Sunday, July 20 | 1-5 p.m.
Peach A’Palooza
James Creek Cider House
A smorgasbord of all things peachy. Enjoy the peach orchard and cidery, live entertainment and fresh peaches for sale. Sample a variety of peach ciders, slushies and desserts.
Sunday, July 20 | 5 -7 p.m.
Peach Week Food Truck Battle – Peach Edition
Red’s Corner goes all in for a food truck battle with a peachy twist. Sample peach-themed dishes from one or all of the day’s food truck lineup and choose your best to declare the winner.
Thursday, July 24 | 6 p.m.
Run Your Peach Off 5K Fun Run
FirstHealth Fitness, Pinehurst
Enjoy this fun evening 5k walk/run hosted by FirstHealth Fitness and presented by the CVB. Those registering for the event hosted by FirstHealth Fitness receive an event hat, fun swag bag and free peach ice cream at the finish. Event to benefit the FirstHealth Cancer CARE Fund.
Friday, July 25 | 6-8 p.m.
Putts N Peach
Wee Pines Olmsted Village
Test your skills and navigate the peach-themed miniature golf courses at Wee Pines at Olmsted Village. There will be free peach ice cream from Big Dipper Ice Cream and prizes for holes-in-one on select holes. Admission is $16 for adults and $14 for kids under 12 years of age.
Saturday, July 26 | 6 p.m.
Peachgrass Festival | Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities
Sponsored by the CVB, the evening opens with a local favorite, Ice Cream for Breakfast, followed by N.C. native Cooper Morona, and the main event is The Red Clay Ramblers featuring our own Bland Simpson. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and settle in for a good old-fashioned hootenanny. Food trucks, beer, wine, and special peach desserts will be on hand.
Saturday, July 26, 7-9 p.m.
Sandhills Trolley | Peach of a Murder Mystery
They’ve got a juicy murder mystery on our hands that’s ripe for the picking! Picture this: You’re riding on the Sandhills Trolley, and while you soak in the vintage vibes, they’ll be making three exciting stops where you’ll savor delicious peach-inspired drinks, mingle with quirky suspects, and dive into the heart of this puzzling crime.
Area farmers markets will also be offering peaches and peach products during the celebration. Find farmers markets at the following locations during Peach Week:
Thursday, July 17 and 24 at the Southern Pines Armory on Morganton Road from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 19 and 26 in downtown Southern Pines at the corner of Broad St. and New York Ave. from 8 a.m. until noon. And at the Carthage Farmer’s Market at 110 S. Ray St. on Friday, July 25 from 2-6 p.m. Plus, visit the Vass Farmer’s Market at Sandy Ramey Keith Memorial Park on Thursday, July 17 and July 24 from 3-6:30 p.m.
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Contributed article.
