Niagara-on-the-Lake’s peach festivals are back this weekend, giving residents and visitors one more chance to savour one of the season’s signature fruits before summer begins to wind down.

With August underway and the days gradually growing shorter, the annual celebrations offer plenty of ways to make the most of the season while it’s still here.

The final set of summer fruit festivals start Friday, with the NOTL Chamber of Commerce’s Peach Festival on Friday and Saturday, followed by St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s Peach Festival on Sunday.

Downtown Old Town will be a hive of activity on Friday, Aug. 7 from 12 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees can purchase baskets of peaches fresh from the farm and try a variety of peach-themed treats at booths set up all along Queen Street.

Alongside these two offerings, plus live music and educational exhibits and an appearance from Percy the peach mascot, the annual peach pie contest is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. in front of the old Courthouse.

Bakers, both amateur and professional, are encouraged to bring their peach pies to be tasted by a panel of judges, which will decide which pie is a cut above the rest and select a winner.

For the kids, Simcoe Park will have a whole host of activities set up on Saturday at the Peach Keen kids zone, including face painting, crafts, swimming and a chance to learn more about the star of this weekend’s grand affair, the peach itself.

On Sunday, Aug. 9, over at St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s church grounds, the celebration continues with peach-themed desserts for sale like crepes, sundaes, whole pies and pie slices, muffins and more, plus a pig roast/BBQ with corn, live music, a raffle with four prizes and tables for baking, jewelry, fresh peaches and a bazaar.

The church’s festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Parish is located at 73 Picton St.