Habersham County, Georgia: Mountain Laurel Festival

Pottery demonstrations are planned as part of the festivities The 48th annual Mountain Laurel Festival will be Saturday, May 15, 2010. A committee with representatives from the City of Clarkesville, Clarkesville Better Hometown Board of Directors, Clarkesville Lions Club, Clarkesville Kiwanis and several businesses is meeting regularly to finalize the schedule.

Initial plans for the 2010 event include:

Clarkesville Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast at Clarkesville United Methodist Church;
Clarkesville Lions Club always-popular parade;
Fine art and craft vendors located in and around the Square;
Antique Auto Show;
Expanded children’s activities also sponsored by Clarkesville Kiwanis Club;
Local entertainment presented throughout the day on the stage in Sam Pitts Park;
Traditional Appalachian lifestyle demonstrations, including music, wood-turning, spinning and other needle arts, on the grounds of the Historic Mauldin House;
The Millinery Shop and Big Holly Cabin will be open for guided tours;
The Charm House will also be open for guided tours. An entry fee of $10 will benefit Friends of Habersham County Animal Shelter.
Local artist John Kollock will sketch children in the Mauldin House garden; and
In partnership with the festival committee, the Clarkesville Better Hometown board is hosting nationally-known storyteller Andy Offutt Irwin on Friday evening as a family-friendly kick-off event. This will be a fundraiser for the Clarkesville Library.

Festival sponsorship levels remain at the 2009 level: Gold-$500; Silver-$250; and Bronze-$100. A Platinum level sponsorship at $1,000 is also available. Other donations and assistance are welcomed.

The Mountain Laurel Festival is the oldest festival of its type in north Georgia. It has been the hallmark of springtime activities in Habersham County since its inception in 1963. The festival is a time to celebrate Clarkesville’s heritage and to extend its long tradition of hospitality.

Clarkesville City Manager Barbara Kesler is involved in her second cycle of festival planning.

"We are adding several new elements to this year’s itinerary," said Kesler. "We are excited about adding the storyteller on Friday night and about the Charm House being open for tours on Saturday."

Clarkesville Downtown Coordinator E. Lane Gresham is working with the committee this year and will be utilizing new tools to entice additional out-of-town visitors to visit Clarkesville for the event.

"We have listed the festival on the Explore Georgia Website and the City’s Facebook page in an effort to broaden the network of promotion for the event," said Gresham. "We want to make an established and successful event even better."

For more information, call 706-754-4216.

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