Youth Summerfest held in Cedartown, coming to Rockmart soon
full of school supplies.
Joy Fredrick, pastor of the Rivers of Living Water church, started the Youthfest in 1998 at Turner Street Park in Cedartown. In 2005, Pastor Fredrick and Youthfest joined forces with the Church Olympics, another youth summer sports event organized by Pastor Kenneth Brown of Galilee Baptist Church.
On Saturday, Pastor Fredricks beamed as Mia Harris opened the games Saturday with a skybusting rendition of the nation-
The Youth Summerfest Olympics marked its 17th year Saturday as more than 500 kids showed up at the Bert Wood Athletic Complex in Cedartown to compete in races, play games, eat good food, and even get a free, back-to-school hair cut from a local beautician.
At the end of the day, not every one went home with a medal, but every one did go home with a backpack stuffed al anthem, and Pastor Jimmy Russell of Cowboy House of Praise, blessed the occasion with prayer.
Kids, ages PreK to 12th grades, lined up on the field for the 40-yard dash, a tug of war, and a tennis ball relay race.
Mary Clark, who will start 8th grade at Cedartown Middle School this fall, was hanging out with her friends under one of the shade pavilions, twirling the medal she just won in the
this is her fourth year at the fest, but she keeps coming back, because, “it’s just fun,” she says.
The 5-to-6 year olds were game for the 40yard dash, lining up in groups of five and beating down the field, seemingly unaware of the 90plus degree heat.
The coaches, DeeDee and Andre Clark, had their hands full, making sure the kids were drinking the bottles of water supplied, “You got to drink your water, buddy,” DeeDee said to one 5-year old who thought it would be more fun to pour it out.
The couple, who have been volunteering at the festival for 10 years, were also kept busy making sure shoes were tied, reassuring those who had not won a medal yet, and accommodating the various bathroom breaks.
“We’re going to have to wait for the girls,” DeeDee told her husband, “I think half of them decided they had to go to the bathroom.” Andre Clark, who teaches special education and math at Rockmart High School and DeeDee, senior manager for Tallatoona Community Action Partnership in Floyd County, remained calm throughout.
Youth Summerfest will be giving youth backpacks with school supplies again on Thursday August 6, 2015 ,at Seaborn Jones Park in Downtown Rockmart from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Donors for the festival included: Rivers of Living Water, Galilee Baptist Church, St. Luke Baptist Church, Eastview Baptist Church, Lake Creek Anointed Ministries, Ware’s Grove Baptist Church, New Bethel Baptist Church, Christ Temple, PAW, Cowboy House of Praise, Glad Tiding COGIC, Zion A Habitation of Gods Glory and Praise, God’s Church of Deliverance, Life Matter Outreach, Polk County Sheriff Department, City of Cedartown, WGAA radio station, Polk County Democratic Party, The Exchange Club, Rockmart Kiwanis Club, Kimoto Tech, Cedartown Wal Mart, 4 C’s Camp, Triangle Foods and Kroger’s. KBC Media broadcasted the Youth Summerfest. Singer Neice and duo LWB performed.
Georgia State Representative Trey Kelley spoke to the youth.
Former NFL player Daniel Buggs held his Iron Sharpens Iron football camp.