Update: Peach Festival 2020 has been moved to 10.24.20. Click here for more information.
Ruston, LA’s annual Peach Festival has helped the city earn its nickname, PeachTown, but with COVID-19 forcing businesses to cancel and reschedule events, community members are asking–will Peach Festival 2020 fall victim to the same fate? It’s sad to say this is a very real possibility; however, we’re still holding out hope. The festival is scheduled to take place on June 26-27, leaving organizers with just under 3 months to figure out how it will all work out. Now that Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the state’s stay-at-home order to April 30th, there’s even more uncertainty regarding whether or not the event will still take place…
Despite all this, some experts believe consumers are going to seize every opportunity they have to get out of their homes post-corona. Under the right circumstances, Peach Festival 2020 could flourish and help businesses get back on their feet. Such a festival could also help Ruston destress from recent events and regroup as a community.
It’s a sensitive subject, however, because finances are involved. The pandemic has resulted in massive unemployment and loss of sales. People may be frugal with their money, preferring to save rather than shop. Furthermore, businesses may not want to participate if selling fees are too high. There are some difficult decisions to be made soon, and our hearts go out to those who have to make them. We hope to hear more news regarding Peach Festival 2020 in the following weeks.