The annual N.C. Peach Festival, filled with peach products, music, a car show, and more is taking place on July 16 to 18 in Candor, NC (with Peach Week events from July 18 to 26).
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If peaches are your favorite fruit, you need to get to Candor, NC in July. The small town hosts the N.C. Peach Festival annually. In fact, 2026 marks its 28th anniversary.
The main portion of the festival is held on the third Saturday of July, which is July 18 this year.
My mom and I have been to the festival and really enjoyed ourselves.
But, don’t head to downtown Candor just that Saturday. In fact, there’s a whole week of peach-related fun in the neighboring area (with many events in Southern Pines and Carthage) that expand the festival from a day to a Peach Week, like peach ice cream at the ball park to a peach food tour.
Of course, my mom and I took part in those too and ate so many peach-themed foods. It’s so much fun and something you need to experience.
So, get your calendar out and get ready. Or, just print this blog post. We have the full details for Peach Week listed.
While you’re in town, you’re gonna eat a lot of peaches.
And, you’re going to want some when you get home too. So, when you’re shopping for them, keep our Tips For Picking The Perfect Peach in mind.
N.C. Peach Festival History
The peach-growing history of Montgomery County (the county where Candor is) dates back to over a century ago when a few prominent residents formed the Candor Fruit Company. Acreage in Candor was purchased and 30,000 peach trees were planted. That started the peach industry in Candor and the Sandhills region of North Carolina.
And, it’s how the small town of Candor gained the moniker “The Peach Capital of North Carolina.”
The first N.C. Peach Festival was held in Candor in 1996. Coincidentally, this is the same year that The Presidents of the United States of America released its song Peaches.
N.C. Peach Festival & Peach Week 2026: Dates & Details
- Dates: The N.C. Peach Festival is July 16 to 18. Peach Week is July 18 to 26.
- Location: The N.C. Peach Festival is held in downtown Candor. Peach Week events are held in various locations around Moore County, NC.
- Cost: Attending the N.C. Peach Festival is free, however, rides and food are an additional cost. Some Peach Week events are free and some are not (everything is detailed in the full schedule below).
Visitors Tips
These tips are specifically for the N.C. Peach Festival, not for Peach Week.
Parking: There is free on-street parking in downtown Candor. But, the festival does get busy, so you may end up walking a few blocks to get from your car to Fitzgerald Park.
What To Wear: Fitzgerald Park is a grassy park with a walking path, although many of the vendors, rides, and the stage are set up on the grass. We suggest you wear sneakers because you’ll be walking through the grass.
It’s an outdoor festival with no shade, so we suggest you wear sunscreen (and a hat, if that’s your style).
What To Bring: Bring a credit card, but also bring cash. The smaller vendors may not take credit cards. Since you’re outside the whole time, we suggest bringing a bottle of water so you stay hydrated. You can buy drinks from the food vendors, but the lines get really long so we suggest bringing your own.
There isn’t any seating provided for the bands, so you’ll want to pack a chair. We also suggest a collapsible table so you can set your drinks and snacks from food vendors on it as well.
Also, bring your patience. Candor has the quintessential small-town America vibe, which means most of the town will be at the festival. Plus all the outside visitors from Moore County and beyond. It gets busy. The vendors and volunteers do their best, and they do a great job, but be ready to wait on long lines.
N.C. Peach Festival & Peach Week Schedule Of Events
All week long, over a dozen local restaurants and breweries will be participating in a restaurant competition. They’ll all be serving delicious foods and drinks with a peach theme, like Pizzeria Grazia’s Just Peachy pizza.
You can pick up a Pick Your Peach Card at any of them and collect stamps when you dine there. If you dine at three, you can drop your card at the Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen office in downtown Southern Pines to enter for a chance to win a $250 gift card to a local restaurant.
Thursday, July 16
Flamin’ Hot Wing Competition: Teams can enter for a chance to win prizes. Teams must register and make a $25 donation in advance of the competition. Visitors can purchase all you can eat tickets for $25 here for a chance to vote for their favorites. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
G. Money’s Beach Music & Oldies: The band will be playing from 4 pm to 5:45 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Tracy Bates & the Circuit Riders: The band will be playing from 7 pm to 9 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
The Beach Fever Band: The band will be playing from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Friday, July 17
Concert In The Park: There will be vendors, food, and live music at Fitzgerald Park in Candor. G. Money’s Beach Party will play from 4 pm to 5 pm, Notorious P.I.P.S will play from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and too MUCH SyLviA will play from 7 pm to 9 pm. Admission is free. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Peach Bash Wrestling Exhibition: Atlantic Coast Wrestling will host the live wrestling event at Fitzgerald Park at 7 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Peach Cooking Contest: This will be held at the Candor Town Hall at 4 pm. If you’re looking for ideas, we have a lot of peach recipes that I think could win. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Saturday, July 18
Farmers Market: The farmers market in downtown Southern Pines (at the corner of Broad St. and New York Ave) will feature peach products from 8 am to noon. The farmers market at Tufts Memorial Park in Pinehurst will feature peach products from 10 am to 1 pm.
Jim Quick And Coastline: The band will play from 2 pm to 4 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Peach Festival: The official festival takes place at Fitzgerald Park (145 N Depot St.), with helicopter rides, kids activities, food vendors, craft vendors, homemade peach ice cream, peaches, beer if you’re 21+, and more. From 10 am to 4 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Peach Festival Parade: The parade kicks off at 10 am. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Peach Pathways: A scavenger hunt for glass peaches throughout parks in Moore County. They’ll be hidden in different locations every day.
Peach Week Foodie Tour: Foodie Tours NC will host a walking tour through Aberdeen to local eateries in the area for peach-themed drink and food tastings. The tour starts at 2 pm. Tickets are required.
The Sand Band: The band will play at the Peach Festival from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Sunday, July 19
Motors & Moore: Sandhills Motoring is hosting a vintage car expo at Bogeys Field at Sandhills Community College from 5 pm to 6 pm.
Peach A’Palooza: There will be fresh peaches, peach cider slushies, tours, music, and more at James Creek Cider House (172 US 1 Highway BR; Cameron) from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Peach Pathways: A scavenger hunt for glass peaches throughout parks in Moore County. They’ll be hidden in different locations every day.
Pitches and Peaches at the Sandhills Bogeys: The baseball game starts at 7 pm at Sandhills Community College (3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst). The first 100 people get a free scoop of peach ice cream from Handel’s Ice Cream. Tickets are required.
Monday, July 20
Peach Pathways: A scavenger hunt for glass peaches throughout parks in Moore County. They’ll be hidden in different locations every day.
Tuesday, July 21
Peach Pathways: A scavenger hunt for glass peaches throughout parks in Moore County. They’ll be hidden in different locations every day.
Wednesday, July 22
Farmers Market: The farmers market at Tufts Memorial Park in Pinehurst will feature peach products from 10 am to 1 pm.
Peach Pathways: A scavenger hunt for glass peaches throughout parks in Moore County. They’ll be hidden in different locations every day.
Thursday, July 23
Farmers Market: The farmers market at the Southern Pines Armory (Morganton Road) will feature peach products from 9 am to 1 pm.
Friday, July 24
A Journey In Time Dinner Train: The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway is hosting a two and a half hour train ride through the Sandhills with a three-course meal. Tickets are $125. It’s ages 18+; alcohol is available for purchase if you’re 21+. This starts at 1 pm and boarding begins 30 minutes before departure.
Life’s A Peach Cook Off: There will be a peach cooking contest that you can judge at the Tyson Sinclair Building in Carthage. Vendors will be set up as well.
Peach Week Food Truck Battle: Each food truck at Red’s Corner (a food truck park and beer garden) will have a peach offering and guests will get to vote on their favorite from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Peach Week Foodie Tour: Foodie Tours NC will host a walking tour through Aberdeen to local eateries in the area for peach-themed drink and food tastings. The tour starts at 2 pm. Tickets are required.
Saturday, July 25
5k Fun Run: The 5k starts at 6 pm at FirstHealth Pinehurst Fitness Center (170 Memorial Dr, Pinehurst). The race is $25. For entrants, there will be healthy snacks, a water bottle, a sticker, and additional giveaways.
A Journey In Time Dinner Train: The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway is hosting a two and a half hour train ride through the Sandhills with a three-course meal. Tickets are $125. It’s ages 18+; alcohol is available for purchase if you’re 21+. This starts at 1 pm and boarding begins 30 minutes before departure.
Par Tees & Peaches: Murder at Peachwood Country Club: The Sandhills Trolley Company will drive riders around to three locations featuring peach-themed drinks and characters so you can solve a murder. This is happening from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets are required and drinks are not included in the ticket price. It’s 18+ to attend but 21+ to drink.
Farmers Market: The farmers market in downtown Southern Pines (at the corner of Broad St. and New York Ave) will feature peach products from 8 am to noon. The farmers market at Tufts Memorial Park in Pinehurst will feature peach products from 10 am to 1 pm.
Peach Week Foodie Tour: Foodie Tours NC will host a walking tour through Aberdeen to local eateries in the area for peach-themed drink and food tastings. The tour starts at 2 pm. Tickets are required.
Peachgrass Festival: Three bluegrass bands — The Orange Markers with Stephen Smith, Grassomatics, and Appalachian Smoke with Cooper Marona — will be playing at Weymouth Center (555 E Connecticut Ave Box 939, Southern Pines). Beer, wine, and food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $17.
Sunday, July 26
Putt N’ Peaches: Play mini golf at Wee Pine Mini Golf. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for kids under 12. Everyone gets a free scoop of peach ice cream from Big Dipper Ice Cream.
More Peach Festivals In North Carolina
Peach season lasts in North Carolina from June until September with the peak coming in July (coinciding with the NC Peach Festival in Candor).
July is actually National Peach Month, proclaimed by then-President Ronald Reagan in July 1982.
The Candor Peach Festival isn’t the only peach festival in the state. There’s also the Knotts Island Peach Festival, held in Knotts Island, North Carolina. However, due to bridge repairs and lack of volunteers, it was canceled in 2025 and 2026.
The festival usually has carnival rides. There will also be delicious peaches for sale, along with peach pie, peach ice cream, peach beer, and more.
And, not a peach festival, but nearby Pinehurst hosts the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival every Labor Day Weekend.
Peach Recipes
If you head to the peach festival to pick up a peck (or a part of a peck) to bring home, and you’re looking for something to do with those delicious peaches besides just eating them, our Peach Hand Pies recipe is incredible. And our Tennessee Peach Pudding, which is a cake not actual pudding, is the hit of all our summer barbeques.
We made both recipes with local peaches from a farm in South Carolina (which, fun fact, produces more peaches than Georgia, the peach state).
We also have a bunch of other fresh peach recipes, so be sure to try them all.
Have you been to the N.C. Peach Festival? Let us know about it in the comments.