Gallatin County Cooperative Extension Service, the City of Warsaw, and Gallatin County Tourism collaborated to host the third annual Peony Spring Festival in downtown Warsaw in the Courthouse Square.

The Gallatin County Cooperative Extension Service organized and created a fun, free, educational event to local community members. Peony Festival activities included a 5K, horse and carriage rides, Queen City Riverboat rides, antique tractor show, an inflatable fun zone for the kids, live music, vendors, and educational workshops.

The Gallatin County Cooperative Extension Service took lead and organized the vendors for the Peony Festival. The Gallatin County Extension Homemakers hosted a 5K run walk fundraiser to raise money for their annual Extension Homemaker Scholarship benefiting a local graduating senior. The 5K raised approximately $1,300 to their scholarship fund. 15 local businesses were sponsors of the 5K shirt and 78 runners and or walkers participated. Extension Homemakers volunteered to assist throughout the event.

Over 300 Peony plants were distributed to educational workshops attendees and 5k participants. The hope of the Extension Service is that the Peony plants will be planted and in bloom (with the 700 plants given away in 2017, 200 in 208 and 300 in 2019) to make Gallatin County the Peony capital of Kentucky.