The cities of Habersham County are putting on a ton of community events this summer.
Plenty is going on this summer in the Clarksville area, starting with the Kids on Wheels event on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For adults, the Sip & Stroll has so far been a great success on the first Friday of each month.
“The first couple of ones had some weather issues, but overall it’s been well received,” said Colby Moore, the new DDA for Clarksville. “The towns have been busy, the restaurants have been full, and we enjoy it.”
Sip & Stroll has been taking place in Clarksville’s entertainment district, and there has been live music, cornhole, face painting, and balloon artists for kids. In the future, Moore hopes to put on a cornhole tournament.
“It’s turned into quite an interesting festival-type atmosphere,” said Moore. “It’s been pretty popular this year.”
On July 15, the Red, White & Tunes event will be in Pitts Park. The entertainment district will be extended to the park for the night so people can bring adult beverages to the event. There will be live music, a huge fireworks display, and some water activities for kids. The city is trying to bring in beer and wine vendors for the park, but that is still unconfirmed.
Cornelia
Catch me in Cornelia is an event located on Hodges Street in Cornelia on Thursday, June 23, from 5 p.m to 9 p.m.
The event is taking place because businesses want to promote and educate people about the entertainment district. Folks can walk around with adult beverages in the designated area, as long as it is in a 16 ounce clear plastic cup.
The splashpad behind the train depot is open from 8 a.m. until sundown, and the summer reading program from the library is hosting an event there on June 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where they will give out popsicles.
The documentary being done on the Train Depot in downtown Cornelia is having a release party on July 23 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m., where food will be served, and the documentary will be shown.
The Summer Nights Festival is held on the last Thursday of every month from 5-9 p.m. in Cornelia. Featured at the festival are live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, restaurants and shops open late, and kid’s activities. The local businesses put on the festival in the area.
The Big Red Apple Festival is on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m to 4 p.m., and it will be huge.
“This is going to be my biggest year yet,” said Lindsey Fitzgerald, the tourism and special events coordinator. “The number of vendors I had in August of last year I already have now. I’ll be closing down a whole additional road for just vendors.”
Fitzgerald hopes to add some more vendors and promotional items such as a car show, ax throwing, historical tours with Habersham Historical Society, and a live painting.
Demorest
Demorest has an entertainment district that is open almost all the time.
“Any day of the week, you can go into my pub or Sweetbreads, and as long it’s in a clear plastic cup, you can go out onto the sidewalk,” said Lawrence Bridges, DDA chair for Demorest and owner of Temperance Fine House Coffee and Public House Downtown.
On July 4, the downtown entertainment district will be temporarily expanded, and a beer garden will be located on the back deck of Public House. Eventually, Bridges wants this to be something that is happening on a once-a-month basis to direct people to Demorest. The Demorest DDA is making plans for the future regarding the park.
“The park commission has been working diligently on getting plans made and executed, and we’re looking forward to great things with our park and our downtown area,” said Bridges.