America is invited to a special Birthday Festival on September 28th honoring Plains, peanut farmers and the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. James Earl Carter Jr. was born October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, at the Wise Sanitarium, where his mother worked as a registered nurse. President Carter turns 100 on October 1, 2024 and continues to remind everyone “if you want to live a long and healthy life like me, eat more peanuts.” 

The festival is in its 26th year and promises to be a fun filled day in this small town that may only boast around 560 citizens but counts among them a former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Carter is the oldest living United States President. 

On this day Plains celebrates both President Carter and those farmers who are the backbone of rural agriculture and especially peanut farmers. The day will begin at 8 AM with the Plains 5K and Fun Run and rolls right into the Peanut Parade at 11:00, featuring beauty queens, political candidates, and antique tractors. 

Throughout the day, arts and crafts vendors and food vendors are scattered throughout Maxine Reese Park and the Downtown Historic District, promising everything from quilts and woodworking prizes to snow cones and funnel cakes! 

Visitors are urged to stop by and taste the popular grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the Peanut Buying Points Association. The Georgia Peanut Commission will have country fried peanuts, hot and ready for tasting. Walk down Plains Main Street and sample boiled peanuts, a southern delicacy. 

A first this year is the White House Communications Agency will display in the Plains Community Center. This Agency is comprised of military personnel who serve in White House administrations. Former members and staffers will be showing films and answering questions about their roles in working with presidents and presidential families. The group will be in the Community Center 9-12. Enjoy live music in the Community Center Courtyard throughout the morning. 

At 7:30 pm, Slaughter Creek Band will take the stage on Main Street for the annual downtown street dance and will play until’ the crowd goes away”. 

Kim Fuller, Executive Director of Friends of Jimmy Carter, said, “Local, state, and ‘all around’ peanut entities have always committed sponsorships to the Festival and without their constant support the 26th Annual Plains Peanut Festival would not be one of September’s memorable days in Plains!”