The annual N.C. Peach Festival is taking place on July 15 in Candor, NC (with events from July 13 to 22).
For more help planning your trip, check out all of our travel posts.
Peaches are having a moment, thanks to the new Super Mario Brothers movie. But Candor, North Carolina has had peaches on its radar for decades. In fact, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the N.C. Peach Festival.
The North Carolina Peach Festival is held annually on the third Saturday of July, which is July 15th this year.
But, don’t head to downtown Candor just that day. In fact, there’s a whole week of peach events happening around the festival this year. There are various events going on in the neighboring area (many in Southern Pines and Carthage) to expand the festival from a day to a week.
This year, there are events like peach ice cream at the ball park to peach slushies at a winery. Plus, the official festival is hosting three days of music this year.
Get your calendar out and get ready. Or, just print this blog post. We have the full details for peach week listed.
N.C. Peach Festival History
The Peach-Growing history of Montgomery County (the county where the 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 the Candor and 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.
This festival is not to be confused with The Peach Music Festival, which was started by the Allman Brothers Band in 2012 (and is happening this weekend in Scranton, PA).
N.C. Peach Festival: Frequently Asked Questions
Before we get to the schedule, let’s answer some questions about the festival.
The main dates for the N.C. Peach Festival are July 14 to 16, however, Peach Week is July 13 to 22.
The N.C. Peach Festival is held in Candor, NC.
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.
N.C. Peach Festival 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. You can vote for your favorites here.
Quick note: Drugstore Divas has no affiliation with the festival or the events. This is the most current information we have, but it is subject to change without notice.
Thursday, July 13
Peachy Pit Stop Cruise-In: There will be a car show and food trucks set up along Depot St. in Candor. There will also be a cornhole tournament. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Moore County Farmer’s Market: The farmer’s market will be held at the Armory (604 W. Morganton Rd., Southern Pines) from 9 am to 1 pm. Peach items will be featured.
North Tower: The band will be playing from 6 pm to 8 pm at/during the Peachy Pit Stop Cruise-In. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Friday, July 14
Bluesfest: A two day festival at the Sunrise Theater. Tickets are required.
Concert In The Park: There will be vendors, food, and live music. G Money’s Beach Music and Oldies will play from 4 pm to 6:45 pm and CAT5 Band will play from 7 pm to 9 pm. Admission is free. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Carthage Farmers Market: The farmer’s market will be held (207 McReynold’s St; Carthage) from 9 am to 1 pm. Peach items will be featured.
Saturday, July 15
Bluesfest: A two day festival at the Sunrise Theater. Tickets are required.
Moore County Farmer’s Market: The farmer’s market will be held at the Park (Corner of New York and Broad Streets) from 8 am to 12 pm. Peach items will be featured.
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, and more. From 10 am to 4 pm.
Peach Festival Parade: The parade kicks off at 10 am. The Peach Festival queen will be introduced. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
The Embers: The band will play at the Peach Festival from 2 pm to 4 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
The Sand Band: The band will play at the Peach Festival from 11 am to 2 pm. *This is an official Peach Festival event.
Wine & Design: A peach moonshine design will be featured (220 W Pennsylvania Ave.; Southern Pines). Tickets are required. The event starts at 6 pm. It’s BYOB.
Sunday, July 16
Life is a Peach night at the Sandhills Bogeys: Doors for the baseball game are at 4 pm and the game start at 5 pm at Sandhills Community College (3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst). The first 100 people get free peach ice cream from Gilber’s Ice Cream. Families will receive the book, “A Trip To The Peach Orchard” for free. Tickets are required.
Power Cars & Peaches: A carshow will be held at Weymouth Center (555 E Connecticut Ave Box 939, Southern Pines) from 1 pm to 4 pm. There will be free ice cream from Gilbert’s Ice Cream.
Monday, July 17
No events scheduled. Although July 17 is National Peach Ice Cream Day.
Tuesday, July 18
Pitch N’ Peach: It’s a fun golf outing at Longleaf Golf Club with tournaments and prizes. Adults receive a complementary peach beer from Pinehurst Brewing Company. Kids get a free peach ice cream. Tickets are required.
Wednesday, July 19
James and the Giant Peach: The movie will be shows at Sunrise Theater. Admission is free with a donation of a can of store-bought peaches. Families will receive the book, “A Trip To The Peach Orchard” for free. The movie starts at 6 pm.
Peach Wine Tasting: A complementary tasting (for adults 21+) will take place at The Tyson Sinclair building (105 McReynolds St, Carthage) from 1 pm to 7 pm. Salsas and butters will also be available to taste.
Thursday, July 20
Moore County Farmer’s Market: The farmer’s market will be held at the Armory (604 W. Morganton Rd., Southern Pines) from 9 am to 1 pm. Peach items will be featured.
Peach Week 5k Fun Run: The 5k starts at 6:30 pm at FirstHealth Pinehurst Fitness Center (170 Memorial Dr, Pinehurst). The race is $10. There will be free ice cream from Stella Scoops at the finish line.
Peach Wine Tasting: A complementary tasting (for adults 21+) will take place at The Tyson Sinclair building (105 McReynolds St, Carthage) from 1 pm to 7 pm. Salsas and butters will also be available to taste.
Pickling Peaches Workshop: The workshop will be held at the Moore County Agricultural Building (707 Pinehurst Avenue, Carthage). There is a $20 fee to attend workshop, which starts at 2 pm.
Friday, July 21
Carthage Farmers Market: The farmer’s market will be held (207 McReynold’s St; Carthage) from 9 am to 1 pm. Peach items will be featured.
Peach Wine Tasting: A complementary tasting (for adults 21+) will take place at The Tyson Sinclair building (105 McReynolds St, Carthage) from 1 pm to 7 pm. Salsas and butters will also be available to taste.
Saturday, July 22
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 2 pm to 7 pm.
Peach Week Foodie Tour: The Sandhills Tolley Company will drive riders around to peach-themed drink and food tastings. There will be five stops. The trolley starts at 1 pm. Tickets are required.
Peach Wine Tasting: A complementary tasting (for adults 21+) will take place at The Tyson Sinclair building (105 McReynolds St, Carthage) from 1 pm to 7 pm. Salsas and butters will also be available to taste.
Moore County Farmer’s Market: The farmer’s market will be held at the Park (Corner of New York and Broad Streets) from 8 am to 12 pm. Peach items will be featured.
More Peach Festivals In North Carolina
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 on July 30 and 31.
The festival will have carnival rides. There will also be delicious peaches for sale, along with peach pie, peach ice cream, peach beer, and more.
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.
We made them 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.