Chalk up another year for the record books: Georgia’s longest running festival wrapped up its 53rd year in style Saturday. Thousands of people from throughout the region turned out May 15th and 16th to enjoy the 2015 Mountain Laurel Festival. They basked in Clarkesville’s small town charm and springtime splendor.
Some people came and brought their young children who sat in strollers and smiled at the promise of ice cream; others pushed their pets in strollers. Veterans wore caps that showed their pride in our country; high school football players made their parents proud by wearing their blue and orange jerseys.
In the parade, some of the vehicles carried beauty queens – others carried mulch. The Mauldin House and its historical garden hosted “Pickin’ and Grinnin’” music on the front porch of the old Holly Cabin and on the town square near the gazebo, from time to time, you could hear rock music.
Overall, there was something for everyone as the city celebrated traditions and new beginnings.
The sights…
The theme for this year’s Mountain Laurel Festival parade was ‘New Beginnings’, something the City of Clarkesville knows a lot about in the wake of last year’s devastating downtown square fire. Clarkesville Mayor Dr. Terry Greene served as Grand Marshall. He and his wife Anne were followed by a string of Miss Mountain Laurel beauty pageant contestants, fire trucks and police cars that punctuated the noise of the excited crowd with their sirens.
The Band of Blue kept the beat and set the pace as dozens of floats, classic cars and parade walkers filed past eager onlookers lined up along both sides Washington Street.
There were a number of floats decorated to suit this year’s theme. The Clarkesville Baptist Church float displayed a painted rendering of the east side of the Clarkesville Square with kids “painting” over it depicting the promise of rebuilding: The sign read, “From Ashes to New Beginnings.” Other floats depicted the new beginnings of spring with woodcarved butterflies and fresh, floral designs. Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County – sponsor of the annual VFL Duck Race – featured board member Leslie Foster dressed as a mother duck holding her duckling (Foster’s daughter Katie) as she hatched out of a shell. The sign on the float read, “Every Story Is A New Beginning.”
Children and adults, alike, thrilled at the sight of the popular Heroes in Force troupe parading down Washington Street dressed in their superhero costumes. Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Cat Woman, Captain America, Robin, Spiderman and Elsa from Frozen were all there, high-fiving and hugging and posing for pictures.
The parade lasted nearly an hour and after it ended many of the parade goers filtered onto the town square to enjoy the rest of what the Mountain Laurel Festival had to offer.
Nearly 100 vendors of various types displayed their wares and interests, and ranged from food sellers to plant, jewelry and clothing sellers, to church members, to health and fitness experts to face painters and balloon artists. There was a playground for young children and an area for older, braver ones to climb a molded “rock” wall and bounce on stretch bands from ground level to a height comparable to that of a one-story building.
The sounds…
This year’s festival was spread over two days. It began Friday night with a street dance in Clarkesville hosted by a live disc jockey and a concert in Pitts Park on the amphitheater stage. Friday’s festivities ended with a fireworks display – its booms heard as far away as Hollywood (Georgia, that is).
On Saturday, live entertainment on the Clarkesville Square included the North Habersham Middle School Jazz Band, a duo called 14 Roots, the Shady Grove Baptist Church choir, a magic show by Daniel Purcell of Crazy Ace Magic, and the musicians Etched in Blue, Anne Green, and Matt Fried.
The smells…
Vendors preparing food in their booths sent smells into the air, tempting buyers toward barbecue, baked goods, fresh-squeezed lemonade and sweet tea. Children were heard asking for French fries and ice cream. The smells were channeled through a number of tents, provided by festival sponsors, that offered shade from the bright sunshine which was mixed with cooler overcast skies off and on throughout the day.
The ducks…
The 4th Annual VFL Duck Race capped off the festival on Saturday with a race for charity at Pitts Park. Nearly 2,000 yellow rubber ducks were dropped into the Soque River at once and raced their way to the finish line. Three lucky duck winners claimed their share of $1,000 in cash prizes. The event raised $20,000 for the local non-profit. VFL Duck Race raises $20,000 for literacy
The memories…
Clarkesville employees, business owners and volunteers worked many long hours over many long months to plan and organize this year’s event. Their work paid off by creating memories and a strong sense of community for the thousands who poured into the city from throughout Habersham and the region.
The 53rd Annual Mountain Laurel Festival was fun, full of variety and blessed with great weather. It also was a good reminder to all of the pleasures and treasures found in rural America; a place where traditions thrive and new beginnings take place every day.
