Dear editor:

My husband and I took a walk down through the Peach Festival on Saturday to get some peaches.

Not an easy task finding them as most of the offerings were tacky jewellery, clothing, candles and other items not connected to peaches.

No steam-engine steaming cobs of corn, no live music like the All Star Jazz Band and nothing for children either. In fact, many of the stalls didn’t even appear to have a connection to our town or main street.

Two spots, or maybe three, selling actual peaches. The entire spectacle was appalling — more flea market than peach festival and not at all representative of our festival’s history or our heritage town.

I guess it was money-maker for the Chamber of Commerce — draw a crowd without investing in quality or great entertainment. It certainly wasn’t for residents or the higher-end tourists we are supposedly wanting to attract.

In walking around our Old Town streets, cars were jam-packed onto grass boulevards and every space imaginable, including blocking driveways. Another lost revenue opportunity for the town not optimized?

So disappointing — another wonderful tradition gone, to service whom?

Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce should consider moving this flea market up to the parking lot at the Outlet Mall next year and let the agricultural community and local businesses reclaim their Peach Festival.

After all, isn’t the Niagara region known for our fabulous peaches?

Judy McLeod
Old Town