- Allied Amusements Will Return to Taliaferro - Photo by Joy Richardson
Labor Day may mean the unofficial end of summer, but it doesn’t mean the fun has to end. In Georgia, there are plenty of Labor Day fairs and festivals which offer a good time for all who attend. Here’s a few of the ever-popular events planned for Labor Day 2010.
Tallapoosa’s 150th Birthday Celebration
Labor Day Weekend 2010 coincides with Tallapoosa's 150th Birthday Celebration. The party will kick off Thursday, September 2 with a beauty pageant, and run virtually non-stop through Monday.
An arts and crafts festival is set for Saturday from 8 am to 7 pm on West Lyon Street, followed by a street dance at night. Children’s activities will be held behind the First Baptist Church playground from 10 am to 3 pm.
Guests for all of the activities are encouraged to wear costumes depicting fashion from the 1860s. Men are invited to enter the Longest Beard Contest. Men without beards should purchase a permit to prevent the Possum Snout Sheriff from throwing them in “jail,” according to the Tallapoosa City website.
There are lots of activities planned, including blue ribbon contests for pies, jams, and jellies. Tallapoosa High School and West Haralson High School have class reunions scheduled for the weekend. A community worship service is set for Sunday morning followed by dinner on the grounds.
For more information, contact Kate Gardner, 150th Birthday Coordinator, at (770) 574-2345.
Taliaferro 24th Annual Labor Day Fair
Taliaferro County will celebrate its 24th Annual Labor Day Fair on Monday, September 6, 2010 from 9 am to 5 pm on the courthouse square in Crawfordville. A parade featuring marching bands, antique cars, and fire engines will kick off at 2 pm.
There will be something for everyone at the fair, including rides, food, exhibits and games. Allied Amusements will return again this year with the “Crazy Toss”, a winner-every time game. The fair will also feature lots of arts and crafts booths. Of course, a fair would not be complete without music. Traditionally, the Taliaferro Labor Day Fair lures impressive musical entertainment from throughout the Southeast.
Visitors can take exit 148 off I-20 and proceed about two miles to Crawfordville. The center of town will be closed to traffic. Arts and crafts booths will line both sides of the streets. Parking and admission are free.
Powers’ Crossroads turns 40
A Labor Day weekend tradition continues in Coweta County as the Powers' Crossroads Country Fair and Festival will celebrate its 40th year. It has become known throughout the nation and named several times by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of “The Top 20 Events” of September, according to the festival website.
Over 150 exhibitors will be featured in this year's juried event. Categories include: fiber, folk crafts, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, painting, pottery, mixed media, organic media, needlecrafts, sculpture, wearable fiber, and wood. There will also be demonstrations of plantation skills such as blacksmithing, sorghum syrup mill, and the original Powers' Plantation grist mill, according to the website.
Music at the main stage entertainment area will include country, gospel, folk and contemporary. This year, there will be several stage areas set up in various places throughout the festival site.
One of the highlights of the festival is the tasty food. Non-profit booths from local church and civic groups will be preparing favorites including Barbecue, Southern vegetable plates, hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, fried fruit pies, and plenty more.
The festival will run 9am to 5 pm on Sept. 4th, 5th, and 6th. Parking is free. Admission to the festival is $7.00, children under 5 are free.
Moss Oak Festival
The Moss Oak Plantation Festival will be held again on Labor Day weekend at 80 Charlie B. Johnston Road and Highway 34 West, at Powers Crossroads west of Newnan.
“Follow the aroma of barbecue, and you’ll be glad you did,” say organizers. Food vendors will be on hand with grilled meat, homemade ice cream, and fresh mini donuts. There are also lots of local talented musicians on tap to perform at the festival, according to information from Explore Georgia.
Guests can tour the 1790s stately mansion known as Moss Oak for only $1. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and according to local legend, there are five ghostly spirits who call the mansion home.
For more information about the festival call 770-583-2555.
Banks County Labor Day Festival
Banks County will hold its Annual Labor Day Festival complete with arts, crafts, and food vendors; live entertainment; street dance; and parade. This annual three-day event is held on the Banks County Historic Courthouse lawn and Homer Town Square located at 106 Yonah Homer Road, Homer, 30547.
Sources:
Banks County.org “Event Calendar,” accessed August 29, 2010
Explore Georgia.org, “Events,” accessed August 29, 2010
Powers Festival.org, accessed August 29, 2010
Tallapoosa ga.gov, "Birthday Celebration," accessed August 29, 2010
Joy Richardson - Joy Richardson has worked as a reporter, photographer, and editor for several local newspapers in the Atlanta area. Her articles have been ...
