Jay Peanut Festival Draws Thousands (With Photo Gallery)
October 6, 2019
The annual Jay Peanut Festival attracted thousands of people Saturday and Sunday.
The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm is 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 to the Gabbert farm over two days.
The event included tours of the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. The Jay Peanut Festival was also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
The Jay Peanut Festival dates back to 1990 when the Gabberts started the event in memory of their daughter, Melissa, a 19-year-old who died earlier that year from cancer.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Jay Peanut Festival Draws Thousands (With Photo Gallery)”
Wish I knew about this but saw no advertisement about it or no listing under events! Where is it located? Is it a once a year event?
Liked looking through the museum and old time kitchen with the ice box and old stove.
This was my first year attending, and I have to say, the Gabbert family is one of the most generous, friendly, outgoing group of folks you’ll meet this side of the Mason Dixon! They truly never meet a stranger! The festival itself was a blast! Looking forward to next year!
The Gabbert family did a superb job with this event. Very accommodating, from Visitor to Vendor. They thought of everything that could make this Festival grand for all ages!
This was my first year as a Vendor and I look forward to many years to come.
I don’t recall seeing the announcement about this. Hate we missed it.
I would like to thank the Gabbert family for holding this event. There are lots of things to see and plenty of reasonable priced food to eat Beautiful place and well organized.
Have never ever seen a festival that big. It was huge. So big, that parking was a challenge. But, there were people helping some with that. There was a shuttle taking people from their cars if they parked far off down the road and if one braved the road all the way to the festival location, people were waving people into a big parking area, which was also a challenge once you were in there. It was SO hot. But, there was plenty to eat and plenty to drink, newer porta potties and even a hand washing station nearby. I have never seen such a huge event with so much to see and do. Congratulations to whoever organized such an event. They sure pulled off an amazing feat. They seem to have thought of everything. Who knew they would need cooling stations in October? !!!! That would have been a great thing to have there yesterday. ……………. like misting fans everywhere.. People seemed friendly and well behaved. I had no idea that I was going to an event that was on such a grand scale. So kudos to the organizers and those who did all the work. I really like Jay Florida.