Thousands Attend Jay Peanut Festival (With Photo Gallery)

October 2, 2011

The 22nd annual Jay Peanut Festival attracted thousands to the Gabbert Farm this past weekend.

For a photo gallery, click here.

For more than 20 years, the Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm has been a fall tradition on the Gulf Coast — showcasing the history, agriculture, food and fun of Santa Rosa County. What started as a chance for local kids and farmers to show off their best of the season has become an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people over two days.

The event included the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. There were more than 150 vendors in all.

The Jay Peanut Festival was also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.

Pictured top: Tens of thousands of peopled visited the Jay Peanut Festival on Saturday. Pictured inset: A Jay Volunteer Fire Department member serves up boiled peanuts. Pictured below: Bruce Byrd of YardenArt in Milton displays planter/party coolers made from recycled tires and rims Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Thousands Attend Jay Peanut Festival (With Photo Gallery)”

  1. Jay Native on October 6th, 2011 1:07 pm

    I didn’t buy any peanuts there this year so I didn’t see what kind they had boiled and were selling. It’s just a thought, but y’all may be used to getting the jumbo peanuts. Some farmers grow the jumbo ones, but most grow the variety known as runners, which are a smaller peanut. The smaller peanuts are what most of us around here prefer and are accustomed to eating. Maybe next year they’ll have both kinds so you can have a choice. :)

  2. SL on October 4th, 2011 7:36 am

    I agree with adlem- We were very disappointed in the small and undercooked peanuts we bought! Other than that we had a great time at the festival.

  3. 429SCJ on October 4th, 2011 3:53 am

    70,000. Not even the Rolling Stones draw a crowd like that. I wonder what the total revenue generated was?

  4. adlem on October 3rd, 2011 10:09 am

    While we enjoyed a short trip to the festival, I was very disappointed in the peanuts that I bought! Paid $10 for a gallon bag of undercooked peanuts that were the smallest I have seen!! Had to reboil when we got them home, but that still didn’t make up the size!! There were some great vendors though!

  5. MQ on October 2nd, 2011 3:31 pm

    Went to this festival many years ago. Had a wonderful time. Glad it still continues to this day.

  6. Angi B. on October 2nd, 2011 12:15 pm

    Another year of such a wonderful festival…