MARK YOUR CALENDAR
THURSDAY, JUNE 1
Thrive Farm, at 150 Ken Visage Lane in LaFayette, Ga., will hold a ribboncutting on Thursday, June 1, from 3-4 p.m. The public is invited to join the farm, and the Catoosa and Dalton Counties’ Chambers of Commerce for a triple ribbon-cutting. There will be live music, farm tours, and local farm-to-table snacks from the Walker County Farmers Market. To reserve a spot, go to https://bit. ly/3NihBlZ.
Effective Thursday, June 1, the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District will close two of its three remaining free COVID-19 test sites. The last day of operation for test sites in Catoosa County (CHI Memorial Hospital) and Paulding County (Wellstar Paulding Hospital) will be Wednesday, May 31. The test site at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds in Floyd County will remain open until further notice.
Walker County Democrats will meet
Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. at the Rossville Library, 504 McFarland Ave., Rossville. This will be a fellowship meeting with games, refreshments, and a discussion of how to recruit candidates for coming elections. Plans will be finalized for the Community-Building Event on June 17 at the Civic Center. Everyone welcome.
SATURDAY, JUNE 3 LaFayette’s Honeybee Festival,
a full day of music, food and fun for the whole family, will be held downtown on Saturday, June 3, beginning at 9 a.m. Country music stars Matt Stell and Drake Milligan will headline the event, with performances on the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Main Stage. Several local musicians will open for them. Music will grace the festival all day on numerous stages throughout the city. The festival will also include vendors, barbecue competition, steak competition, Honey Show (to show off artwork, confections, and sweets), bicycle ride, beauty pageant, car show, and kids’ zone (jumping inflatables, wall climbing, sandlots, and face painting, to name a few activities). For more information, go to www.myhoneybeefestival.com.
The Catoosa County Library will hold a Summer Reading Kick-Off event on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Catoosa County Library on the Benton Place Campus.
The Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion will open the mansion in Chickamauga for tours on Saturday. June 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and each Saturday until Labor Day. Cost is $5 for adults and $1 for child 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Friends 501c3 group to improve and enhance the mansion. Contact at www.friendsofthegordonleemansion.ORG or 423 488 0861.
MONDAY, JUNE 12
Vacation Bible School at Boynton United Methodist Church, 4246 Boynton Drive, Ringgold, will be held June 12-14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Light lunch will be served. Theme: “Shine Jesus Light.” Kindergarten through fifth grade. For more information: 706-866-2626 or 423-326-9584.
SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Gospel Jubilee at First LaFayette Baptist Church,
201 N. Main Street, on Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m., featuring Pastor Marcellus Barnes and The Voices of Triumph with Elder Donna McLin, Mistress of Ceremony. Also: The Suttle Family, First LaFayette Baptist’s Praise and Worship Group, the choirs of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist, Cove Road Church of God and a community choir directed by Dr. Kisha Thomas. Vince Stalling and Willie Davis, program chairs. Fundraising event sponsored by the WCAAHAA Inc. to benefit the Walker County African American Multicultural Community Park. $15 until June 20, $20 after June 20. Tickets: http://www.walkercountyafricanamerican.com or pick up from: The Walker County African American Museum, 309 N. Main St., LaFayette, Stacey Suttle, Kisha Thomas, William Nelson, Wilma Nelson, Robert Marsh, Alma Benton, Stan Porter, Jackie McGintis, Beverly Foster, Gail Ware, Alice Coven, Vince Stalling, Willie Davis, Eddie Foster Sr. or Shirley White.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30 City of Summer
The ville is accepting applications from those interested in becoming a food vendor at the annual Celebrate Independence Festival & Fireworks Show. This event will be held on Friday, June 30, at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center at 33 Middle School Road. The festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m. and conclude following a fireworks show scheduled for 10 p.m. Families will have the opportunity to come early this year and enjoy the food vendors that will be onsite offering a variety of foods for families wishing to picnic. The festival, concert and fireworks show has been a longtime family affair and one of the best fireworks shows in Northwest Georgia, the city said in a press release. This year’s Celebrate Independence vendor selection will be juried. All interested vendors may submit an application to the City of Summerville for consideration. Vendor applications may be picked up at Summerville City Hall at 120 Georgia Ave. or at request by email to slocklear@summervillega.org. City Hall hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All applications must be completed and returned by no later than 5 p.m. on May 31 to be considered.
SATURDAY, JULY 1 Chickamauga Lions Club’s 49th annual Down Home Days Festival & Craft Show,
originally scheduled for May 20, was postponed due to weather. It will now be held on Saturday, July 1, in downtown Chickamauga. The event will be combined with the city’s Independence Day celebration and will feature live entertainment, kids’ zone, and craft and food vendors. Admission is free. “If you are a vendor and this date does not work for you,” the city said in a news release, “please reach out to our festival coordinator Katie Russell via text at 423-693-5576 with your full name, booth name, and choice of forwarding your fees to the 8th annual Pumpkinfest on Oct. 21, 2023, or the 50th Down Home Days Festival on May 18, 2024. We are sincerely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but want you to know vendor safety and the safety of the festival attendees is at the core of this decision.” For more information, email chickamaugalions@gmail.com.
John Schneider, best known for playing Bo Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” is coming to the Catoosa County Colonnade in Ringgold. Tickets for his upcoming show, set for Friday, July 7, at 7 p.m. can be purchased at www. catoosacolonnade.com.
Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion will open the mansion in Chickamauga for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday until Labor Day. Cost is $5 for adults and $1 for child 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Friends 501c3 group to improve and enhance the mansion. Contact at www.friendsofthegordonleemansion.org or 423 488 0861.