Cedartown kicks off Fourth Friday with Chaotic
The first Fourth Friday of the 2014 summer season kicked off with a good crowd who came out to see Cedartown’s own Chaotic play at the park in front of Polk County Court House No. 2.
Jennifer Hulsey, co-chair of the organization committee for the Downtown Renaissance project, said she felt the first show for this year was a great success.
“I think it went really well,” she said. “I and the whole community were pleased with the turnout.”
Organizers are planning the next block party for July 25, but have not yet released the name of the next act playing. Hulsey said an announcement is forthcoming prior to the next show.
The Fourth Friday Cruise-In will also be held in conjunction with the show.
Hulsey said she hopes to see even more people turn out for the next concert.
“If we can get people to understand this is an event we’re going to continue having, I believe we’ll have an even better turnout this coming month,” she said.
Contact Danielle Coley at 678-918-6132 or email her at theballeygarden@aol.com for more information about this event.
For people not interested in the race or music, fine arts and crafts will be on display. These typically feature such items as handmade purses by Darlene Crawford of Rockmart, pottery by Payne Pottery of Emerson and ceramic yard art by Bill Wanke of Temple.
Featured during the afternoon is one of the most popular events of Homespun - the Rotary/ Polk Duck Race, which traditionally begins at 2 p.m. People gather on the banks of Euharlee Creek to watch little yellow plastic ducks bob along to the finish line when winners are announced.
Visitors seeking something different can view antique or classic cars parked at Richardson Field (across from the park). The Kiwanis Club sponsors the show and car owners are usually on site to hear hometown folks and visitors comment on favorites.
For more information about this special event, call Cory Day at 770-3246347 or Layne Sanders at 678-757-2274.
Food vendors will provide blooming onions, gyros, ribbon fries, corndogs, shaved ice, homemade ice cream, apple dumplings, funnel cakes, hamburgers and hotdogs, barbecue, nachos, cotton candy, boiled peanuts, pork rinds, kettle corn, roasted corn and more.
Homespun organizers have added a special area of fun activities for kids. Children will find a 25-foot inflatable slide, dragonfly ride, rock wall, turbo tub ride, bull ride and pony ride plus a bounce house.
Plans are to make the 2014 festival better than ever, according to Mandy Mallicoat, communications specialist with the Polk County Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber staff emphasize the Homespun Safety Committee meets several times each year to plan ways to secure the safety of all attendees and participants of the festival. This group includes Chief Keith Sorrells, Rockmart Police Department; Chief Todd Queen, Rockmart Fire Department; Bud Owens, Andy Fairel and Chuck Thaxton, Floyd EMS; Robert Early and Marty Robinson, Redmond EMS and Director Jeff Crawford, Polk County Animal Control.
One of the concerns the committee addressed this year is the new “No Pets Allowed” rule.
Executive Director Tamaka Hudson, Polk County Chamber, said that mixing beloved pets with crowds that include curious children could lead to unexpected incidents.
“During the 2014 Homespun Festival, only certified service dogs will be allowed and must have proper identification on them,” she said.
Saturday’s activities will climax at 9:30 p.m. with a fireworks show, sponsored by Floyd EMS.
Homespun’s premier sponsor is Floyd. Platinum sponsors are HON, South 93.5, Georgia Power, Coosa Valley Credit Union and Parker Systems SLC.
Gold sponsors include Metro PCS, the City of Rockmart, Waste Industries and Family Savings Federal Credit Union.
Silver sponsors are Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Scana Energy, Nathan Dean Agency, Winthrop at Polk, Peachtree Pest Control, Rockmart Batting Cages, All Phase Home Services, River City Prophane, LeafFilter North of Georgia, Inc., Madaris Siding and Windows, Taylor Construction and Meggitt Polymers and Composites.
Bronze sponsors are Smith- Lockwood and Triangle Grocery. Associate sponsors include Econolodge, Morgan Hardware and Coosa Dental Associates, LLC.