FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Every year, Central Georgia hosts a big festival paying homage to the state's nickname, the "Peach State".
Although the top peach growers in the country are California and South Carolina, Central Georgia puts out 75% of the state's production each year.
In Peach County, they are preparing for their 38th Annual Georgia Peach Festival.
Friday marks the kick-off party with over 50 food vendors and activities for everyone.
The weekend is expected to be filled with family-friendly fun from a peach parade and peach eating contest to fireworks and concerts.
The city says they expect over 10,000 people to come from near and far to explore the "Peach State" and to see what the festival has to bite into.
Gary Lee is the assistant city administrator and says the weather looks great and so does the foot traffic.
"This is one of our largest ones that we have," Lee said. "The economic impact of this is phenomenal. With that many people in Fort Valley, we're just grateful and we're just looking forward to people having a great time and a safe time."
Kierra Felder is a vendor at the festival and the owner of Main Squeeze Lemonade.
"Fort Valley is a small town but it has a lot of stuff to offer," Felder said. "Fort Valley is trying to build it up and be bigger and I appreciate that. I'm a small-town person so it gives people like us opportunities because larger cities don't offer big opportunities for people like us with small tents, they're already looking for food trucks so it has a lot going on here."
Felder was born and raised in Perry and says events like these are just what the city needs.
"It's really bringing Georgia together," Felder said. "I've seen people from far like I know people came from Atlanta just to come to Fort Valley and most people don't even know where Fort Valley is if they're not talking about the school so I love it! I love to see people coming out and it just gives me hope right there."
Ivy Christian is the owner of a food truck selling everything from funnel cakes and turkey legs to blooming onions and chicken strips.
He traveled from North Carolina to be a vendor at the Georgia Peach Festival and says he enjoys meeting new people and contributing to the community.
"It's always good to give back to the community. It's good for the city because it helps bring in profits and helps take care of the city," Christian said
On Saturday, the fun begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast followed at 10 a.m. with the Georgia Peach Festival Parade.
There will be a free concert at 5 p.m., a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m., and you don't want to miss the giant homemade peach cobbler.