One of Clarkesville’s biggest tourist attractions, the annual Mountain Laurel Festival, takes place Saturday, May 19th. The time-honored festival began in 1962 and takes its inspiration from the mountain laurel flower which grows wild in the Northeast Georgia Mountains.
The Mountain Laurel Festival has evolved and grown through the years, bringing in multiple art vendors, food vendors and musical performers as well as thousands of tourists and locals.
According to Vendor Coordinator Julie Poole, vendor participation has increased this year with current totals capping 100.
“The festival grows bigger each year and we have more interest every year in people not only wanting to come to the festival, but more people wanting to be a part of the festival,” Poole says.
“With the growth in vendors and attractions, we anticipate our attendance to skyrocket as regulars and newcomers come out to experience the festival,” adds Clarkesville Economic Development Director Mary Beth Horton.
Horton describes the festival as a family friendly event. “It’s a weekend when family comes to town and everyone gets together on the Square to enjoy good food, great art, lots of music and just a fun weekend for everybody.”
Oldest festival of its kind
The Mountain Laurel Festival is the oldest running festival of its kind in Georgia. It will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 19th on the downtown Clarkesville Square. Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County (VFL) will hold its annual rubber duck race in conjunction with the event. Also during the festival, the winner of Soque River Watershed’s ‘Bass-Kissin’ contest will pucker up to claim their ‘prize’.
READ Tickets on sale now for VFL Rubber Duck Race on the Soque
Parade
The Mountain Laurel Festival Parade will kick off the day with a centennial-themed parade through downtown Clarkesville. The theme, “Happy Birthday Habersham: 200 Years Strong” will be led by this year’s Grand Marshal, Terry Rice.
The Clarkesville Lions Club is sponsoring the parade. Applications for parade entries are being accepted through May 17th. For information on how to register, click here, email [email protected], or call 706-968-6921.
A $10 donation to the Lions Lighthouse is requested
Schedule of events
- 10 am: Parade
- 10 am-5 pm: Fine art and craft vendors located in and around the Square
- An outdoor food court
- Kids Zone
- The Millinery Shop and Big Holly Cabin will be open for guided tours
- Clarkesville “History in Photographs” Photo Exhibit at Mauldin House Visitors Center
- Live entertainment acts throughout the day on the square
- 1 pm: Bass-Kissing Contest on the stage
- 3:30 pm: Rubber Duck Race on the Soque River at Pitts Park (sponsored by Volunteers for Literacy)
For more information on the festival, contact 706-754-4216 or visit www.clarkesvillega.com.
(featured photo courtesy of Clarkesville Main Street/Facebook)
