Local youth will be gathering in Cedartown later this month for the annual Youth Summerfest
More than 1,000 local youth are expected to take over the Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Center in the coming week's for an annual tradition to help get kids ready to head back to school in August.
Organizers are wrapping up the final preparations for this year's Youth Summerfest Olympi c s bei ng hel d in Cedartown on Saturday, July 29.
The event featuring a variety of activities and giveaways for local youth is being held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and medals will be given to those who compete and win.
Courtney Ripoll, one of t he many organizers helping to put together the event, said that buses will be provided for those youth who can't get a ride to the event, and parents are required to fill out and return a form giving transportation permission for their children.
"That's not to say that we don't want parents to come out with their children, we encourage and want them to come participate and have fun too," she said. "We're just providing rides for those whose parents for whatever reason can't bring them to the park."
She added that children will not be allowed to get on the van or bus without the consent documentation filled out and turned in.
Buses are being provided by Rivers of Living Water G.E.M. Van, Glad Tidings C. O. G. I. C. Van, Lake Creek, Anointed Ministries Van, and Galilee Baptist Church.
Buses will pick up at the following locations: Aragon Police Department by the park, Hogue Avenue Gym (Skateboard park in front of gym) in Rockmart.
In Cedartown, vans will pick up on Canal Street, Marietta Street, Queen Street, and Turner Street. Riders need to be at those locations between 9 and 9:15 a.m. No transportation will be avail- able after 9:45 a.m.
A number of field days t yle games will be played, and youth will have the opportunity to get free school supplies during the Youth Summerfest Olympics as well.
For those who can't make t he Cedartown event at the end of the July, the group will also be handing out f ree school supplies to those who need them at Rockmart's upcoming Block Party in August.
Those who want more information or want to help out with the Youth Summerfest Olympics can contact Joy Fredrick at 770-713-5440, Kenneth Brown at 706-767-0874 or Ripoll at 770-689-7838.