A group of Volunteers for Literacy "ducks" went by as part of the Mountain Laurel Festival Parade, drawing attention to the need for literacy funding. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)
The 2022 Mountain Laurel Festival promised to be the biggest in its 60-year history. So many vendors signed up to participate that the city had to expand the festival beyond the downtown district. Organizers expected 4,000 people to show up for the event and from the looks of it, they did.
The Parade
The big event for the morning was the parade, which began promptly at 10:00 a.m. Both sides of Washington Street were packed with enthusiasts who were bombarded (literally) with an abundance of candy being distributed by every passing group. Four-year-old Caleb kept saying, “It’s raining candy! It’s raining candy.”
Large crowds waited for the parade to begin. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Veterans walked and rode the parade route, handing out candy. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)The Grand Marshals vehicle. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)(Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Santa showed up as well. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)The bear announced the Summer Camp Program for Bethlehem Baptist Church. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)This little one was worn out as she went by. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Not sure what happened! (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Turner Lander from Alto enjoyed his first Mountain Laurel Parade, cheering on friends who were walking with the Literacy group. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)
The Festival
The Mountain Laurel Festival had more than a hundred booths set up throughout the square and down in a lower parking lot, and even had a plant sale at Mauldin Cottage and Garden. After the parade, hundreds of people crowded into the town square area to shop, eat, and meet up with friends.
Colorful tarps covered the booths downtown. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)The parade crowd moves toward the town square. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Along the sidewalk, stores set up displays to catch the attention of the passerby. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Several booths featured handmade jewelry. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)A basket weaver from Savannah brought Sea Grass baskets to the festival. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)The face painter at the Clarkesville First Methodist Church booth created amazing paintings for children. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)Bejeweled scarves drew lots of attention. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)
The Volunteers for Literacy Duck Race booth was a favorite for many. The local nonprofit holds its annual duck race fundraiser in conjunction with the festival. Volunteers sold race tickets and duck-themed souvenirs at the booth, which featured an imaginative display of decorated rubber ducks. The ‘duck’orations followed a literary theme and were part of VFL’s Dec-A-Duck contest. Festival-goers voted on their favorites. After the duck race on the Soque River, the winners were announced, capping off Saturday’s festival.
This duck with mouse ears represented the book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)This bedazzled duck really drew attention. (Jenna Shaw/NowHabersham)
