Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Route 322 and Route 897 in East Earl, has held a peach festival each August for many years. During COVID-19 restrictions, the event was toned down to include only church members and church attendees, but in 2022, the public festival returned.

For 2023, the Peach Fest, as it is now called, will be held at the church on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. As in the past, the event will feature a flea market, book sale, silent auction, and bake sale, along with food items for purchase and free ice cream for children.

The menu for the Peach Fest features a variety of foods but focuses on peaches, with peach-flavored items available for purchase throughout the event. Breakfast items will include pancakes with or without peach topping and whipped cream, sausage and egg casserole, and coffee. "The casserole is back by request," said Barbara MacMaster, one of the organizers of the fest, who noted that the casserole had been offered in the past but was not available at the 2022 event. Lunch will feature hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs with or without sauerkraut, and pulled pork sandwiches. Sliced peaches with or without ice cream and whoopie pies will be on the dessert menu.

A baked goods table will include homemade peach pies, as well as a variety of other pies, cakes, brownies, cookies, a variety of flavors of whoopie pies, and other baked treats.

Organizers of the event have been accepting book donations, and a number of genres will be represented, including summer reading books. "We have some World War II hardcover historical books," said MacMaster. "They're stories of real events." An area of free children's books will be set up for young ones.

Church members have collected yard sale items that can be purchased by donation at the fest, and a table of costume jewelry will be set up, along with a table of craft items made by members of the congregation.

Organizer Barbara Zook said that inside flea market vendors will include a jewelry maker and a table of sports-themed items such as wastebaskets and pillows. According to Zook, several outside flea market spaces will be available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis that morning beginning at 6:30 a.m. Individuals who have questions or are interested in reserving an inside vendor space may call Barb at 717-656-6322.

This year's silent auction will consist of at least 20 items, including themed baskets and gift certificates. Among the many theme baskets organizers expect will be a Thai basket, a Pepperidge Farm basket, and an Emma's Popcorn basket.

Funds raised by the Peach Fest go to a number of causes, including the church's Caring Fund and the general fund. A percentage will also be donated to Shiloh Youth Mission to further the work that Shiloh Presbyterian Church in Oxford is doing in the community.

Readers who would like more information about Cedar Grove may visit http://www.cedargrovepresbyterianlanc.org/home or call 717-354-5573.