Wrapping up August with small-town flair, the Romeo Peach Festival is Michigan’s longest-running festival (94 years strong in 2025) and a cherished Labor Day weekend tradition. For five days, the village of Romeo in Macomb County bursts with peach-themed festivities and old-fashioned fun. The downtown streets come alive with carnival rides spinning and twinkling lights at night, a big parade or two marching through (in fact, Romeo holds three parades over the weekend, including a nighttime lighted parade and the famed Peach Parade on Labor Day morning featuring floats, bands, and the newly crowned Peach Queen). At the Romeo Lions Field festival grounds, your $5 admission (kids free) opens up a world of entertainment. There’s the Peach Festival carnival midway with rides for all ages, from a gentle merry-go-round for the kiddos to a full-size Ferris wheel and whirling thrill rides for teens and adults. A $30 wristband lets you ride unlimited all day. You’ll find live music concerts each evening under the big tent, with genres ranging from country to rock (wristband or admission gets you into the concert area, and 21+ can enjoy beer and “Beers Around the World” in the refreshment tent). Families will love the KidsFest area with inflatables, games, and kid-friendly shows during the daytime.
This festival also showcases Romeo’s agricultural roots and community spirit. The aroma of freshly baked peach pie and peach cobbler fills the air as local churches and vendors sell homemade peach desserts – make sure to taste a slice of peach pie or grab a cup of locally famous peach cider. Traditional events include a classic car show that brings antique and muscle cars downtown, a country western rodeo (watch cowboys ride bulls and barrel-race on horseback), and even monster truck shows and a demolition derby that draw crowds to cheer on the smashing action. There are peach pit spitting contests, craft shows with artisans from around Michigan, and the Little Miss Romeo Peach Pageant where adorable kids vie for a tiny tiara. With multiple venues and events, the Peach Festival truly offers “something for everyone.” One minute you might be on a carnival ride, the next watching a tractor pull or browsing a craft fair for peach jam.
