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2022 Jay Peanut Festival Has Been Canceled
July 31, 2022
The 2022 Jay Peanut Festival has been canceled due to the death of Eugene Gabbert and the lack of workers to repair storm damage.
The Jay Peanut Festival dates back to 1990 when Eugene and Brenda Gabbert started the event in memory of their daughter, Melissa, a 19-year-old who died earlier that year from cancer.
The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm was 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 grew into an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people to the Gabbert farm.
“We had a lot of damage to our farm, house and buildings from the last hurricane, more than we realized at the time. Our roof was not replaced with a new one until the end of March 2021, and nothing else was repaired,” Brenda Gabbert wrote in an announcement.
Eugene Gabbert passed away on November 16, 2021, months after a tragic medical emergency in May 2021.
She said many family members also suffered from COVID-19.
“My husband was our electrician, mechanic, carpenter, and handyman,” Brenda said. “This year, 2022, I cannot get enough help to even hire workers to repair my farm damages that are needed to have the Peanut Festival. I have not finished all things concerning my husband’s death.”
Vendors owed a refund will be contacted, she said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
“I have not given up on having another Peanut Festival, but not this year,” Brenda said.
Comments
9 Responses to “2022 Jay Peanut Festival Has Been Canceled”
We are sorry to here about your husband we were looking forward to seeing the festivities this year. I was wondering if you would have the web site or email to 2 vendors 1 is the vendor with the peals in the oysters where they make nacklaces. The other one is the peanut brittle my cousin goes only there to pick up that special brittle from the one vendor. I appreciate all your help if you can and we send our prayers to you and family.
My husband and I use to go to peanut festival, it was always very nice. So sorry you can’t get help, it’s sad when people won’t work, some are too lazy, what I can’t understand is with so many jobs available, but can’t get anyone to work. WHERE are people getting money from to live on? That’s always been my question. So sorry Ms. Brenda, I lost my husband in 2021 also. May God bless you and eventually you can get things taken care of.
Praying for you and your family.
I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I’m also sorry to hear that you haven’t been able to find help to do the needed repairs from the hurricane. I’m going to be praying for you. I will also be praying for volunteers. Your family has had a huge impact on Jay and the surrounding towns. Everyone has always looked forward to the festival. I pray now that people will come together to help give back to your family. I hope North Escambia can help keep everyone posted on anything that can be done to help. Surely if we all put our hearts and hands together and bring our skills and labor, this can be accomplished.
A Family struggling in hard times.
Thank you though for all the good times we all had at the Festival.
This is when you find out who your friends are.
Mrs. Gabbert,
I am so sorry for your great loss. I pray God sends you His comfort. and volunteers to help you. I know some of what you are going through, but on a smaller scale. I did get to attend one of your festivals, and it was awesome and a great memory. Thank you for all you did all those years. Isaiah 57:1 kjv
So sorry to hear all this. Mr. Gabbart was a fine man, and it is a shame that the festival has to die when he did. Prayers for the family.
I’ve never been there I’ve heard great things about how pretty it was . it’s a shame to see how times has changed? back in the day neighbors looked out for each other and it’s beyond words to hear the loss of loved ones . this was a eventive always wanted to attend. I pray the community can come together and help put this place back on the map. God bless you all