 |
|
When: The Mountain Laurel Festivities begin on May 16th with a four-day carnival, with the actual festival on Saturday, May 19th from 10am-10pm.
Where: Historic Downtown Clarkesville, Georgia
Why: This Festival was recently named one of the "Top 20 Events in the Southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society for the second consecutive year. Held in Pitts Park and on the Square in Clarkesville, Georgia, the Mountain Laurel Festival offers loads of fun activities for everyone.
Fun Event Activities include:
 Midway Carnival Rides
Finale Fireworks Show
Big-name headlining entertainment
Antique Auto Show
Fine art and craft vendors located in and around the Square;
Expanded children’s activities; a ladies special area and men’s special area
Zip-lining on the Square
Local entertainment throughout the day;
Clarkesville Lions Club always-popular parade;
The Millinery Shop and Big Holly Cabin will be open for guided tours;
Local artist John Kollock will sketch children in the garden;
Duck Race in Soque River (sponsored by Volunteers for Literacy)
A Featured Presentation of all former Mountain Laurel Beauty Queens and Parade
Grand Marshals
Traditional Appalachian lifestyle demonstrations, including music, wood-turning,
spinning and other needle arts, on the grounds of the Historic Mauldin House
Call for more information.
Contacts: Barbara Kesler, Clarkesville City Manager: 706-754-4216 and
Mary Beth Horton, Clarkesville Better Hometown Manager: 706-754-2220/706-968-4190 |
| How this festival got started 50 years ago |
After 50 years, residents and visitors look back and forward. A lot can happen in 50 years. The world can change, a lifetime can pass, and on a small downtown square in Northeast Georgia, many generations of residents can be found dancing in the streets.
This “Golden” celebration will incorporate more community partners-local artists, musicians, local collectors and patrons, local restaurants and small businesses and engage residents and visitors of all ages. Touted as one of the Top 20 Events of the Southeast for the second consecutive year, organizers say the festival will honor the traditions it has represented over these fifty years as well as offering cutting-edge entertainment with a nod to the future.
Washington Street will again play host to the ever-popular parade and then the crowd will spill over into the square, park, city gardens and side-streets which will be teeming with art and craft booths, live music, a special children’s area and enough food to satisfy every taste bud.
After a day of shopping and perusing the exhibits, visitors will enjoy a closing ceremony which includes the introduction of the past and present Miss Mountain Laurels, as well as past and present grand marshals. Additionally, the town will host a carnival, headlining entertainment and an explosive grand finale featuring a fireworks show.
It all started fifty years ago in May, when the Mountain Laurel flower was in full bloom, and Clarkesville Mayor Amilee Graves decided that Clarkesville needed an event to “liven up” downtown. Not only would this event celebrate the beloved Mountain Laurel flower, but it would celebrate the quaint community of Clarkesville, by gathering merchants, organizations, and citizens to take part in a parade and accompanying festivities.
The original site of the festival was on the grounds of the historic Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church, but as years went by, the festival quickly outgrew the original site, and now runs throughout the downtown square with an audience of thousands.
One Clarkesville resident, Glenda Smith, recalls her early memories of the festival. “My family always attended the festival. In a small town, parades and festivals are events that you look forward to all year. I remember as a teenager going to the street dance with all my friends and the fun we had. I continued the tradition by attending the festival with my family. My girls always enjoyed the event. They participated in the parade, the beauty pageant and as they matured they volunteered.”
When any institution hits 50, a fair question would be to ask about its future. Can it, will it attract new people, new fans? Organizers say it already has.
Original festival goers still make the trek to the downtown square each year, but now the kids they used to bring along are the ones working behind the scenes, and some of them are now towing kids of their own.
Call for more information.
Contacts: Barbara Kesler, Clarkesville City Manager: 706-754-4216 and
Mary Beth Horton, Clarkesville Better Hometown Manager: 706-754-2220/706-968-4190 |
|
|
|
|
More Special Events:
GA Festivals & Events
Holiday Events
Arts & Crafts Events
Astronomy Events
Bike Events & Marathons
Wildflowers & Garden
Free Annual Events
GA Job Fairs & Events
|
