Four-thousand people are expected to descend on Clarkesville this weekend for the city’s 60th annual Mountain Laurel Festival.
On Saturday, May 21, the event runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. in historic downtown Clarkesville. The day’s events include a parade, arts & crafts, music, cars, and food. Also, there will be a plant sale from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Mauldin House garden located at 458 Jefferson Street. And, at 3:45 p.m., Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County will host its 11th annual VFL Duck Race on the Soque River at Pitts Park, just off the Clarkesville Square.
This year’s event will be one of the biggest in recent memory.
“We have over 100 vendors this year. So many that I filled the overflow spaces in the parking lot next to Century 21,” says Clarkesville’s Julie Poole. “There will be beautiful jewelry, woodworking, all types of clothing, pottery, art, food, and so much more!”
The Mountain Laurel Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Georgia and one of the most highly-anticipated locally. It is named in honor of the beautiful Mountain Laurel flower that blooms in the Blue Ridge during the spring.
This year, the city of Clarkesville held a contest to create a new logo. It returned to its roots with an artistic drawing of the eponymous flower that was created by West Hall High School graphic design student Carson Pendley. Habersham County resident Angela Pirkle is Pendley’s teacher.
The simple, fresh, clean Mountain Laurel design will be featured on t-shirts available for purchase during the festival.
Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson says a lot of work has gone into planning this year’s event.
“The Mountain Laurel Festival Board and the Lions Club have done an amazing job planning the entertainment and parade and finding extra space for additional vendors to make this an amazing event.”
Schedule of Events
Parade
10 a.m. – Mountain Laurel Festival Parade coordinated by the Clarkesville Lions Club
Entertainment
11:00 a.m. – Shady Grove Baptist Church
12:00 p.m. – Bryant Tench
1:00 p.m. – Challenger Music
2:00 p.m. – Mat Fried
3:00 p.m. – Belly Dancers from the Sautee School of Dance (in front of Greene Plaza)
3:45 p.m. – VFL Duck Race at Pitts Park
Mauldin House Plant Sale
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
SEE ALSO
Cornelia to host live Neal McCoy country music concert May 21
