TIFTON, Ga.— The 2008 Plains Peanut Festival kicks off Saturday morning September 27 with fun activities scheduled for the entire day. The theme for this year’s festival in Plains, Ga. is “Plains, Peanuts and a President.” Of course the festival would not be complete without a visit from President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Mr. Peanut and the Planters Nutmobile will roll into Plains to help celebrate the festival. The University of Georgia, The Peanut Institute, National Peanut Board, Farm Credit, Planters, Jif and the National Peanut Buying Points Association will display exhibits in the Planter’s Peanut Pavilion. The Georgia Peanut Commission will be on hand oil roasting delicious Georgia peanuts in the pavilion.

Additional festivities throughout the day include a 5K Road Race, free entertainment, historical and educational displays, food vendors, arts and crafts booths and a parade down Main Street.

The Grand Marshall for the 12th annual Plains Peanut Festival Parade will be Mary A. Bomar, Director of the United States National Park Service based in Washington, DC. Bomar has served in the Directors position for almost two years and is the Service 17th Director in its history. The parade is slated for Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Plains.

Sponsors of this year’s peanut festival include Kraft Foods-Planters, Smuckers-Jif Peanut Butter, Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association, National Peanut Board, The Peanut Institute, Alterra Bio-Entergy and The Plains Better Hometown Program. For more information and to view a schedule of activities visit the official web site of the Plains Peanut Festival at www.plainsgeorgia.com.