National Peanut Festival, Inc.

In 1938, Dothan, Ala., held its first Peanut Festival with Dr. George Washington Carver as the honored guest, to publicize and celebrate the chief agricultural product of the Wiregrass region. The 1939 celebration ran for 3 days and included a parade and beauty pageant. World War 2 forestalled fairs until the Dothan Jaycees revived them in 1947. In 1952 the Dothan Chamber of Commerce turned operation of the annual event over to the non-profit National Peanut Festival Association, which added a carnival and extended the event to one week. In 1956 the Association of Alabama Fairs accredited the Peanut Festival, and the Alabama Peanut Producers Association awarded its first Peanut Farmer of the Year award. The Association added fair exhibits such as livestock shows and peanut recipe contests in 1962. It created the position of Executive Director in 1973 to run the daily affairs of the business, and provided staff in 1976. In 1979 the Festival grew into a two-week event.