Underground Atlanta will transform into a peach-scented celebration on July 12 as PeachFest returns for its 12th year, showcasing over 50 chefs, mixologists and culinary personalities celebrating Georgia's iconic fruit and the region's evolving food culture.
The timing coincides with FIFA World Cup 2026 activities in Atlanta, offering international visitors and locals a taste of Southern hospitality. The festival has expanded this year to reflect the city's demographic makeup and culinary evolution, particularly through a new Spanglish Cocina Pop-Up Experience celebrating Puerto Rican cuisine and the broader Latino culinary diaspora.
The pop-up brings together Monti Carlo, senior food and dining editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and author of "Spanglish: Recipes and Stories," alongside chefs Hector Santiago, Jose Mendin and Julio Delgado. The experience recognizes that Atlanta's food landscape has been shaped by Latino communities for decades.
The culinary lineup includes established Atlanta chefs such as Lamar Moore, Karl Gorline of Avize, Chidima Okafor of Miller Union and Gary Caldwell of Marcus Bar & Grille. Dishes range from chilled peach soups and Cajun shrimp sliders topped with peach chow chow to peach ceviche, representing a culinary dialogue between Southern tradition and Caribbean and Latin American influences.
The Peach Pit Bartender Invitational features 20 mixologists competing to create original peach-inspired cocktails using Código 1530 Tequila. The competition is judged by celebrity chef and television personality Nicky Liberato, with a $1,000 grand prize.
PeachFest is part of Pearson Farm Peach Week Atlanta, a broader citywide initiative bringing peach-inspired dishes and cocktails to participating restaurants. Proceeds support CURE Childhood Cancer and Piggy Bank, a nonprofit supporting sustainable farms.
The festival runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at Underground Atlanta. VIP admission begins at 3 p.m., with general admission at 4 p.m. The event will feature handcrafted cocktails, local brews, wine tastings and interactive demonstrations.
Tickets and festival details are available at peachfest.org.
