The town of Paynton is preparing to turn tart into tradition with the debut of the first-ever Rhubarb Festival on June 21, celebrating the much-loved garden staple with a full day of food, fun, and community spirit.
“We’ve been planning this for quite a while now, just to celebrate rhubarb,” says Tracy Romuld, chair of the festival committee. “It’s our first year, so it’s been a bit chaotic, but we’ve got a great team and a lot of excitement.”
The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and will feature something for everyone, from family-friendly activities to local fare and entertainment. A rhubarb baking competition will be one of the day’s highlights. Entries include pies, tarts, crisps, and muffins, and winners will be announced during a Dignitary Kickoff Ceremony at noon.
Throughout the day, visitors can browse local vendor booths, enjoy performances from live dancers, and let kids explore activities like face painting, a bouncy castle, and balloon art. A beer and wine garden will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., featuring a signature rhubarb drink created by Bee and Thistle Winery of Debden, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available. The festival will also include disc golf demonstrations on Paynton’s brand-new course, a nostalgic tractor show, a silent auction with community-donated items, and food trucks serving everything from burgers and hot dogs to chicken satay.
Romuld says the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. “People have been really enthusiastic. We’re even putting up signs on the highway to help guide people into town.”
The festival is still welcoming vendors, bakers, and tractor enthusiasts to register. Entry forms for the baking competition are due by June 16 and can be found online.
All proceeds from the festival will be donated back to the Community of Paynton.
To stay up to date on announcements, follow Rhubarb Festival on Facebook.
“There’ll be a lot of rhubarb,” Romuld says with a laugh. “It’s going to be a great day.”