The 35th annual Brooklet Peanut Festival brought out thousands of folks this past Saturday, September 21, and as expected, it was a hit. This festival is one of those events that just pulls the whole community together, and every year, it somehow gets even better. This was my first time ever going to the event, and I was blown away at the turnout in little 'ole Brooklet.
The day kicked off with a parade that seemed like it went on forever (in a good way) because it seemed like the line went all the way back to Statesboro! Tractors, school groups, beauty queens, marching bands -- you name it, they were in it. Southeast Bulloch’s finest were out there too, fundraising and selling goodies, helping keep that school spirit strong. Not to mention the SEB Class of 1979 proving that school spirit lives on. One trip through the parade wasn't enough; they made two. Both were memorable!
Once the parade wrapped up, we made our way to the festival grounds, which were packed. Tent to tent, there were people shoulder to shoulder. From jewelry to woodwork, shirts to hats, it was a shopper's paradise. And don’t even get me started on the food—there was enough to feed an army. If you didn’t leave full, you weren’t trying hard enough.
That doesn't even count the main attraction: peanuts! Fried peanuts, roasted peanuts, and boiled peanuts to name a few.
For the kids, there were rides and bouncy houses that kept them busy and smiling all day. Plus, the big crowd-pleasers, like the slow tractor races and kids' pedal tractor races, kept folks cheering. These events are always a blast and a perfect nod to Brooklet’s farming roots.
Throughout the day, the crowd was given performances by Southeast Bulloch High School Band, Third Infantry Division Band, Jeremy Thomas, Good Time Buddies Band, Jazmine Wilson, Jackson Cannady, Red Wing (Terry Parr, Krenson Knipher, Bill Jones), Elvie (Mike Riddle & Michael Burgess), and Blue Steele Band.
The Brooklet Peanut Festival just keeps proving that it’s more than just a fun day out—it's a celebration of the community we all love.
Big thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who help make it better every year.
Be sure to check out the gallery above, we have included some of our favorite pictures from the festival.
