6 minute read
Dairy Festival
The Dairy F Returns estival
It has been two years since the Dairy Festival has graced the streets of downtown Eatonton. The Pilot Club of Eatonton is ready to have the festival back on Saturday, June 4th of this year, with even more dairy-themed celebrations than before. We have put together a list of six experiences you can’t miss this year.
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Dairy Festival 5k Road Race Parade Tractor & Show
New for this year’s festival, the Dairy Festival 5k Road Race will feature a one-mile fun run around downtown Eatonton starting at 7:30 am and the traditional 5K starting at 8:00 am. The morning starts early, but so does the fun. Get to see historic downtown Eatonton before all of the festivities begin.
DairyQueen
The original “Dairy Queen” has graced the Dairy Festival almost since the beginning of the festival itself. The queen of the Dairy Festival will be crowned at the Jr. Miss & Dairy Festival Queen Pageant on May 7th at 6:30 pm at the Plaza Arts Center.
Fre Ice e Cream
The average high temperature for June is almost 89 degrees, so no doubt it will be a hot, steamy Saturday. Cool off with free ice cream provided by Mayfield ice cream. Festival-goers have the opportunity to get a fudge pop, ice cream sandwich, or any new flavors that may be available this year. One of the most popular attractions of the Dairy Festival, the parade features a variety of floats highlighting the Putnam County dairy industry. The parade also features many vintage tractors, paying homage to the past farmers of the area. Kids can expect to get enough candy to last them at least the entire festival. This year, the parade will start promptly at 10:00 am.
ShopLocal Hundred Vendors s of
Shopping from local artisans means finding all kinds of unique goods in our very own town square. Booths open at 9:00 am and will be open all day until the festival ends at 4:00 pm. There will be plenty of time to look through every booth carefully to make sure everyone gets a Dairy Festival souvenir.
MilkingExhibit
Keeping up with all of the dairy-themed fun. It is only appropriate to feature the inspiration for it all, the dairy industry in Putnam County and throughout Georgia. One of the most- interesting exhibitions of the day is the live milking exhibit of a professional dairy cow. Volunteers will step visitors through the process of milking a cow and how dairy products get from farm to table.
by McKenzie Cardwell- Chairman- Mainstreet Advisory Board
Have you heard what’s going on downtown? Have you seen what they are doing downtown? What are you doing this weekend; want to meet up downtown? I think we all have asked at least one of these questions over the past year. My name is McKenzie Cardwell and I actively serve as the chair of the Eatonton Mainstreet Advisory Board. Our current advisory board is made up of eight local members dedicated to working towards our mission to preserve and enhance the historical and cultural character of Eatonton through economic development.
As a member of the advisory board, it is our job to determine how we can bring the heartbeat back to Eatonton. Becoming part of the Eatonton Mainstreet has opened my eyes to so many amazing things about downtown Eatonton. Have you ever just walked around and taken it all in? Our downtown is absolutely stunning, and it continues to grow with every new business and new restaurants that breathes life into our beautiful, historic buildings. I cannot express how full my hometown heart gets when I see people flock to downtown Eatonton. One of my favorite memories of the past year was during our Mistletoe Market late last year. I vividly remember the busy morning of market day. Vendors arriving, tents going up and so much handmade merchandise including crafts, art, food, and clothing getting stocked for a crowd we would have never expected. About halfway through the day, I remember sitting with my grandmother and fellow advisory board member, Amelia Logan, and our Eatonton Mainstreet manager, Lauren Singleton, saying how proud I was to be part of that day. That was the icing on the cake to a sweet, sweet year in downtown Eatonton. Looking forward to 2022, Eatonton Mainstreet is excited to share that feeling with everyone who visits downtown! Along with several new restaurants and new businesses opening this year, the Eatonton Mainstreet event calendar starts with the Magnolia Market which is quickly approaching on April 16, 2022. With more than a dozen events already planned, I know we are gearing up for a monumental year of memories to be made and memories to be shared. After all, there is something for everyone including music and movies on the city stage, shopping at locally-owned stores, great food, and delicious drinks at one of the upcoming restaurants, what more could we ask for?
by Taylor Hembree- Marketing Director
The Plaza Arts Center making dreams a reality By Taylor Hembree, Marketing Director
Create. Cultivate. Celebrate. Three simple yet powerful words. These three words are what guide The Plaza Arts Center. Located in the heart of Lake Country, The Plaza has become a central gathering place over the years. A place for fellowship with friends during meetings held in the board room, a place for laughing at the Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts’ (PAPA) plays, a place for seeing new music in the theater, a place for learning about history in the Old School History Museum, a place for making new friends at summer camp — The Plaza is a true mainstay in the Lake Country community. With those three words, The Plaza is bringing that hope to the Lake Country.
Create: Providing first class performances and talent to entertain the family year round. From hometown star, Matt Rogers, doing his album release concert at The Plaza to Master Classes at the local schools with renown pianist Barron Ryan, 2022’s lineup is not one to miss. Some highlights at The Plaza this year include: Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band—this band sells out everywhere they tour, A1A: The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band, The Longest Road: Eagles Tribute band and coming back again this year, Take3 Trio — a pleasant surprise for audiences. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased online at plazacenter.org. Cultivate: A place for lifelong learning with an ongoing partnership with Putnam County Schools. Educating the youth in the community is the ultimate mission at The Plaza. There are several offerings that are currently happening for arts education. These include Second Saturday Crafts which is free to the public, Coffee Houses, an intimate stage for high schoolers and young adults to perform in a safe setting, and this summer we have summer camps: Camp Broadway, Art Camp and a Broadway Intensive. For more information on the summer camps or other educational opportunities, call The Plaza at 706-923-1655.
Celebrate: A unique place for parties, weddings, meetings and other celebrations. The Plaza is the perfect backdrop for any gathering. Whether hosting an outdoor wedding or an indoor reception, The Plaza has affordable options to fit any budget. Rental rates are online at plazacenter.org.
The Plaza is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which began as a dream. The dream was to renovate a dilapidated schoolhouse and that’s just what the founding committee did. The renovation took ten years from conception to completion, and the center opened to the public in March 2008. From what was a dream to currently allowing kids to explore their dreams, The Plaza continues its legacy of bringing arts to the community.
