Suwanee Day Turns 25

by Tana Suggs / Appen Newspapers

SUWANEE – People were playing hard, living well and smiling more at Suwanee's Town Center Park last Saturday where city officials estimated about 42,000 attended the 25th Suwanee Day celebration.

Suwanee City Councilman Dan Foster said the weather has got to be the best of any other Suwanee Day.

"And we've got a great crowd," he added.

Festival goers started arriving at the park just before 10 a.m. to watch the parade, to peruse the vendor tents and to watch the entertainment.

This year, 94.9 The Bull, a local radio station, partnered with the city for a country music theme, and the Everett Brothers kicked off the entertainment around 11 a.m. with some bluegrass music.

"The country music adds a different feel to this year's event," said Bobbie Ervin of Sugar Hill who attended the festival with her husband, Steve, and their children, Natalie and Jimmy.

The Ervins said they've made the annual festival a family tradition.

"It's a great family atmosphere," said Bobbie Ervin.

City officials said more than 170 exhibitors participated this year, and Gertrude Thomas, a resident of Suwanee for 47 years, has participated as an exhibitor every year.

Thomas said she started out selling crafts, but for the past 19 years, she has sold her home made peanut brittle and cookbooks.

"I just want to let you know this is wonderful, and I look forward to it every year," a customer told Thomas referring to the candy.

The Suwanee Day Festival is the only area festival Thomas participates in.

"I look forward to it all year long," she said.

The evening entertainment featured country music bands The Lost Trailers and Ricochet, and the day-long celebration ended with a fireworks display.

Foster said the event was very organized.

"Things are running extremely smooth this year," he said crediting the success of the event to a great staff and proper planning.

"They (the staff) have done a wonderful job in bringing the best of our volunteers and organizing them appropriately," Foster said. "Our silver anniversary is absolutely wonderful."