Countdown to the Peanut Festival: Entertainment lineup, changes to security, and events announced
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — Officials with the National Peanut Festival announced the entertainment lineup and “improvements” to the annual event. The press conference started at 2:00 p.m.
The 80th National Peanut Festival will run from November 1 to 10. Tickets will be available beginning September 1.
This year’s entertainment at the AllMetal Amphitheater includes:
Tucker Wetmore (Saturday, November 2)
Ashley Cooke (Sunday, November 3)
Ashley McBryde (Thursday, November 7)
Ian Munsick (Friday, November 8)
Organizers are also expected to give details on changes to the Circle City’s signature staple.
National Peanut Festival Executive Director Tim Ellison announced new “security enhancements.” These include new metal detectors, which are supposed to improve line traffic flow. The clear bag policy is still in effect for the festival, and bags are subject to random bag checks. Strollers and wagons will also be checked.
The grand NPF parade will take place on October 26. It will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will go down East Main Street, South Saint Andrews, Lafayette Street, Foster Street, East Newton Street, North Appletree Street, and Museum Street, looping back to East Main Street.
In years past, the NPF Parade took place on the last Saturday of the festival. However, Executive Director Ellison said they want the parade to kick off the festival this year instead of having it at the end.
This year will include a LEGO building competition. Builders will be provided with a Peanut Festival theme and building blocks.
Local cooks are also able to join in the boiled peanut recipe competition.
The Little Miss Pageant will be on October 12, and you can see the crowning of the new Miss National Peanut Festival on October 18-19.
Officials also updated the Little Miss Pageant and Miss National Peanut Festival scoring. For Little Miss, the Community Service Cover Sheet will account for 10%, the interview for 40%, and the stage personality and appearance will be 50%.
In the Miss National Peanut Festival, Stage Presence/evening gown will be 10%, the written portion will be 10%, peanut knowledge will be 10%, verbal communication on community service will be 20%, and the interview will account for 50% of the score.
Executive Director Ellison says this change to the scoring system is intended to engage the contestants in the community.
This year’s festival will also include morning learning events on Friday, November 1; Monday, November 4; Tuesday, November 5; and Friday, November 8. This will allow local kindergarteners and first graders to learn how to make candles from breeze wax, grind wheat into flour, and more. The children will also get to see the animal races and petting zoo.
Officials hope these additions spark an interest in the farming profession and agriculture in the younger generation.
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