By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Aug. 6, 2026) As nearly 4,000 people flocked to the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on Saturday for another successful Peach Festival, the organization’s leaders say they are gearing up to host more fundraisers throughout the fall and winter months.

Taylor House Executive Director Melissa Reid said favorable weather, strong attendance, and several new attractions helped make last weekend’s Peach Festival, the 18th annual, a success.

“It was hot but not super hot, and it didn’t rain,” Reid said. “We had a great time.”

One of the event’s biggest hits was a giant paper mache peach created by a Taylor House board member that served as a popular social media selfie station for guests.

“It was this huge, spectacular peach,” Reid said. “We were so pleased about that, so we hope to figure out a way to store it and bring it back in the next few years.”

While entertainment from the Bilenki Duo and the Berlin Airlift was well-received by the festival crowd, organizers were relieved that peach supplies held up despite earlier concerns that an April freeze might have caused a shortage.

“Thank heavens we had our peaches,” Reid said. “We had peaches, we had peach preserves.”

The executive director added that a new artistic partnership included in this year’s Peach Festival exceeded expectations.

Official festival T-shirts designed by local students sold exceptionally well, Reid said. One design, created by a Salisbury University communications major, sold out, while another, created by a Worcester Technical High School graphic design student, proved to be a top seller.

Attendance mirrored previous years, said Reid, who estimated the festival received roughly 4,000 visitors. Crowds began arriving even before the official 10 a.m. start.

“We told all our vendors to be set up by 9:30, and there were [guests] on the lawn at 9:30,” she said. “The morning is definitely super busy.”

While the festival was successful, Reid acknowledged rising costs have created new challenges. Peaches were significantly more expensive this year, prompting museum leaders to consider ways to ensure the fundraiser remains financially sustainable.

“The cost of everything is going up,” she said. “We’re definitely going to be looking for ways to improve it and keep it going because we know that it is an integral part of the Berlin calendar.”

The Peach Festival provides the majority of the museum’s fundraising revenue.

“Our museum is in existence because of the Peach Festival,” Reid said. “It only works because people show up and buy peaches and peach preserves and donate money and buy peach drinks. Without the community, this museum wouldn’t exist.”

As the summer starts to wind down, the Taylor House’s attention now turns to its fourth annual Book Festival this fall, scheduled for Oct. 17, the same day as Berlin’s Oktoberfest.

Reid said a partnership with local publisher Salt Water Media has helped expand the event by handling author and publisher outreach while museum staff focuses on programming and vendors.

“We’re looking forward to having that one grow because there really isn’t a book festival around here,” Reid said. “It’s something Berlin doesn’t have, and we’re really excited to see where that journey takes us.”

The museum is also planning to expand its holiday programming in December. In addition to its annual children’s day and Sip and Shop event featuring handmade gifts from local vendors, officials are exploring additional kids’ activities and specialty holiday tours.