It's a tradition so nice that organizers have it twice.

The Washington Boro Tomato Festival will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, July 12 and July 19, at Washington Boro Park, 2010 River Road.

Proceeds will benefit Blue Rock Fire Rescue, and the company's support group organizes the event. Admission is free. The festival will take place rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for seating. Coolers and alcohol are not permitted.

Food will be served starting at 3 p.m. both days; carnival games will open at 5 p.m.

Border Line will perform oldies and country on July 12 starting at 5 p.m., and Bluestone Bluegrass will play July 19, also at 5 p.m.

Blue Rock's support group will sell a variety of food, including BLTs and tomato sandwiches without the B and the L. The sandwiches are so popular that volunteers will use more than 200 pounds of tomatoes and 140 pounds of bacon on both days of the event.

The organization's menu will include chicken corn soup, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, and sausage sandwiches, as well as soda and tea.

Vendors will sell carnival fare such as popcorn, french fries, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, and cotton candy, in addition to milkshakes and Italian ice.

People who attend the festival will have the opportunity to buy tickets for a chance to win prizes. First prize is $500. Second prize is a Blackstone grill, and there will be five $100 third prizes. Tickets can be purchased on both days. The winning ticket will be chosen July 19; ticketholders need not be present to win.

The festival's organizing committee is made up of Doris and Dan Ditzler, Carl and Brenda Miller, Kathy Fry, Molly Wiseman, and Bobby Howell. Volunteers are needed in the kitchen and to work the food stands. Anyone wishing to help can call Dick Schock at 717-951-6411.

Schock said the Washington Boro Tomato Festival began in 1958, and Blue Rock took over after four local fire companies merged in 2011. "It's a big community event," he said.

Schock noted that the sandy soil caused by flooding of the Susquehanna River makes the region's farmland particularly fertile. He said that the region once had many more farmers who raised tomatoes. They were part of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, which shipped the tomatoes to other areas. The Washington Boro variety is officially known as Jet Star tomatoes.

Wiseman added, "It's the rich soil down here. It's almost black looking. Being down by the river, it's like a natural fertilizer. The closer you are to the river, the more productive the crops are." She grew up in the area and has attended many tomato festivals. "It's a tradition to come here," said Wiseman, who enjoys the BLTs. "You grow up and continue the tradition."

Dan said that the sunny, warm, and wet climate helps make the tomatoes juicy and extra flavorful. "When I slice these tomatoes at the festival to make sandwiches, our cutter goes right through them," he said. "Some of them are so soft that they explode."