In celebration of Grand Valley’s juicy, sweet cash crop, the Palisade Peach Festival returns for its 45th year this weekend, Aug. 15-18.

The fest kicks off Thursday with an ice cream social and street dance at Town Plaza in Downtown Palisade from 6-9 p.m. It’s free to the public and sponsored by the Town of Palisade.

The final concert of Grande River Vineyards’ “Hear it Through the Grapevine” series, presenting the Remus Tucker Band, is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15, at the winery’s outdoor venue in Palisade. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 7:30. Tickets cost $20 advance or $25 at the door.

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The main event at Riverbend Park in Palisade is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16 (from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.), and Saturday, Aug. 17 (from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), with vendors and activities available though Sunday, Aug. 18 at the Palisade Farmers’ Market (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Town Plaza area along 3rd and Main streets).

Day tickets for Friday and Saturday cost $5 for adults, $3 for children (6-12), and kids 5 and under get in free. And a two-day pass costs $7 for an adult or $4 for a child (6-12).

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“We will have all the same standard favorites — Lions Club virgin daiquiris, jams, jellies, salsas, and peach pies,” Palisade Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Juliann Adams said. “Food vendors are adding peaches to their general menu items, and we’re hoping that we’ll have peaches everywhere. If you don’t get your peaches at the Peach Festival (Friday & Saturday), there’s always the Sunday Farmers’ Market.”

And the Peach Festival Parade — called “Life’s a Peach” — kicks off in Downtown Palisade Saturday at 9 a.m.

“The parade has a new route, south on Main Street, around Memorial Park and then back up Kluge,” Adams said.

Plus, the popular peach-eating contest will make its mark 2 p.m. Saturday, with kids and adult categories.

The vendor area will also have a new layout at Riverbend Park this year, Adams noted. “It will be more open.”

And American Furniture Warehouse is sponsoring a kids’ fun area, with stuffed-animal tigers, games and prizes.

Another crowd favorite — the Palisade Lions Club Pancake Breakfast — is set for Saturday, Aug. 17, from 7-10 a.m. at the Palisade Memorial Park. Tickets cost $6, and children aged 6 and under eat free.

A free “Just 4 Fun Car Show” is additionally scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peach Bowl Park.

There will also be “plenty of … entertainment, contests, activities for kids, and opportunities to explore Palisade via self-guided tours, guided tours and outdoor recreation,” the Palisade Peach Festival website said.

For a full event and activity calendar, visit http://www.palisadepeachfest.com.