Families flock to Peanut Butter Festival

Published 10:00 pm Saturday, October 25, 2008

From Florida, Georgia and their homes right in Brundidge, people flocked to what was one of the Peanut Butter Festival’s largest crowds Saturday.

Whether it was for the entertainment, the parade or peanut butter treats, locals and non-locals alike said there was something at Brundidge’s 17th Peanut Butter Festival for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s got a little but of everything, some old, some new,” said Bill Harp, of Enterprise. “And it’s geared toward the whole family, not just the young or the old.”

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To Pink Folmar, who has lived in Brundidge for several years, the festival is a way to foster community.

“I like to see everyone from all walks of life get together and enjoy it,” Folmar said, as he ate a juicy hamburger from one of the festivals 14 food vendors.

John and Mary Louis Sutton, a couple who has lived in Brundidge since 1957, said they have been to every Peanut Butter Festival the town has ever had, and it just keeps growing.

“We like the parade, the peanut butter and the food,” John Sutton said, just after the parade finished making its way through Main Street.

And even first time visitors of the Brundidge festival had good things to say about their experience.

“It’s excellent seeing all the crowds, and there is a lot of good food and crafts,” said Martha Goodson, of Georgetown, Ga. “We ate peanut butter and peanuts and barbeque, and we’re full.”

Other first-timers, Paul and Lucille Brooks, of Port Charlotte, Fla., were enjoying watching performers on stage.

“The entertainment is really good, but we’re waiting on that performer,” said Paul Brooks as he pointed to an Elvis impersonator. “We like it all really, but we like the Gospel, Elvis and country best.”

Lawrence Bowden, chairman of the peanut butter committee and city councilman, said this year’s festival was better than years before.

“We think it gets better every year, and this year we are making peanut butter on site,” Bowden said.

Bowden said 96 vendors came out to the festival to show off their crafts.

Jack and Rufus Ryals, of Henry County, sat on the back of a truck making brooms and mops the old-fashioned way.

Straw brooms, corn-shuck mops and even rakes made of dogwood branches were what these brothers said they’ve been making for years.

“A lady that has back problems, they love it because you can sweep with these,” said Jack Ryals, as he demonstrated his old-fashioned broom. “You sweep with these, and then you scrub with that (shuck mop).”

But whatever people liked best about the festival, it all goes back to one thing.

“It’s all the peanuts,” said the Peanut Butter Festival’s Mr. Peanut.