Peach Blossom Festival brings elementary school students to college
Kyle Lowe/The Collegian
Swarms of children buzzed around Fresno State on March 17 and 18 for the annual Peach Blossom Festival, an oral interpretation festival held every year by the communications department.
Many Valley natives may remember competing at their elementary school, hoping to get the chance to recite a poem in order to attend the festival. For those who missed out on it as a child, the festival’s purpose is to give children the chance to speak in front of others, practice memorization, have confidence and get a chance to see the university first-hand.
Jessica Martin, the publicity coordinator for the festival, feels Peach Blossom is a fabulous program to create confidence.
“It’s a great confidence booster and gets kids into poetry,” Martin said. “Poetry today is kind of unheard of. Kids are more into popular music.”
It all started 53 years ago when the Speech Communications and Theatre Arts departments ran the festival. Now the Communications department has taken the reins. More than 6,000 children walked through the halls of the various locations on campus where the readings were held, from rooms in the Kremen Education building to the John Wright Theatre.
Around 130 schools visited Fresno State from as far north as Livingston and as far south as Delano. The Peach Blossom isn’t only selective of students from just public schools. Even those who are homeschooled can attend.
Martin said some students at Fresno State find the children on campus a nuisance when trying to get to class, but these children could be future Fresno State students.
“They are just so darn cute,” Martin said. “Their excitement about everything reminds you of when you were that age.”
Poems can be recited in a solo, a duo, a trio, a small group and a large group. Judges look for confidence, fluidity, their ability to focus and presentation quality.
After performing, the children receive positive feedback from the judges.
“Each judge gives an opinion on the performance, but they are different and always positive,” Martin said. “This is about gaining confidence, not tearing it down.”
Everyone is a winner at the Peach Blossom Festival. Students receive either an excellent or superior stamp along with a certificate.
“I didn’t even hear about Peach Blossom until I came to State,” Martin said. “It goes to show that the university campus doesn’t just benefit Fresno State students but also benefits the community.”
Andrew Shapiro, head of athletic publicity and a punter on the Fresno State football team, was in charge of getting student athletes to sign autographs both days of the event.
There were members from all kinds of Bulldog sports, including the equestrian, lacrosse and football teams to inspire the incoming children.
The student-athletes brought a sense of awe to the children, who have seen some of the athletes on TV. They learned that it’s possible to be a student and an athlete at the same time.
“A kid gets a signature from a football player and it’s the coolest thing to them,” Shapiro said. “They can take all of this home and tell their parents they want to go to Fresno State.”
Stacie Mimura, the director of the Peach Blossom Festival, said kids get really excited to visit Fresno State and experience a day on campus.
“I think it is an amazing festival that is an opportunity unlike any other in the Central Valley,” Mimura said.
One of the judges, Phil Johnson, is also a Fresno State student. He feels the festival is a great recruiting tool because a lot of kids will remember the days they came to Fresno State.
“I love Peach Blossom,” Johnson said. “It’s all for the kids.”