What’s Happening at the 2017 Peach Festival
As always, all activities are free, courtesy of our sponsors and partners. Items of special interest to children are shown in bold type.
The Parade on Broad and Main Streets begins at 9 am. It always includes an
exciting variety of bands, antique cars, fire equipment, costumed participants, performing groups, noise, horses and color.
Middletown Historical Society Booth at Cochran Square
Volunteers from the Middletown High School Band Boosters will assist in selling peaches, and Peach Festival T-shirts and aprons. They will also help with information, directions, and recruiting members.
Historical Society Museum and Grounds at the Academy Building (216 N. Broad St.):
Museum: · Downstairs visit our two exhibits, “Reflections of Middletown,” an interesting collection of depictions of local people through the ages using various media, and a new one on daily life in Middletown 100 years ago, emphasizing our role in World War I, both in military service and on the home front. We have done lots of new research on all the men and women who served from this area. · Upstairs we have a new small exhibit called “Living Together” in which we explore the racial and ethnic history of this area. You can still visit the small exhibit we call “Downtown Abbey” to show what people wore and how they lived in the Middletown area during the 1910’s and 1920’s. Visit the permanent exhibits on the history of the local peach industry, and a recreation of a 19th century schoolroom where children can sit at old fashioned desks and practice cursive writing. There’s also a children’s touch-it room with old-fashioned toys.· After visiting our exhibits, be sure to request a coupon for a free peach (or vanilla) ice cream cone, courtesy of Hy-Point Dairies, a Peach Festival sponsor. Hy-Point Dairy Farms took part in our very first Peach Festival. · MOT Senior Center will be selling whole pies and serving slices and desserts in the meeting room downstairs (call 302-378-4758 for availability). · Buy the Arcadia Press nostalgic photo book Middletown and receive a one year free individual or family membership to the Middletown Historical Society · Peach Festival T-shirts will be for sale. · The museum building is air conditioned, and has several rest rooms open to the public. Handicapped accessibility to the first floor is via a ramp at the back of the building.
Rear parking lot:
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A lot full of children’s free, games, inflatables and fun is being provided by Jump on Over, our main Peach Festival booth sponsor on Cochran Square.
Front lawn:
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Victorians of Virtue and Valor
Step back in time and take a stroll on the front lawn with the Victorians of Virtue and Valor, who are dressed in 1860’s attire. Play games familiar to families of the Civil War period. Watch the soldiers drill as they practice firing their rifled muskets. Craft a kite to take home and fly when you catch a breeze. Make sun prints with your children as they learn about photography.
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The Fort Delaware Society will provide literature and handouts on the sensational Civil War island stronghold.
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The Fort Delaware Cornet Band will be in the parade and then will be giving two short concerts in front of the museum, one at 11 a.m. and one at 1p.m. The Fort Delaware Cornet Band is a crack musical organization that dresses in Civil War era uniforms and plays rousing period marches.