4th of July sees larger crowds and parade participants
Community, News July 6, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The crowds have returned and celebrations were in full swing in Ellijay, Georgia, where the Fourth of July concluded with good feelings among those putting on the event.
Left, Seth Teagarden of Gumdrop Fun Shop sits with parade Grand Marshal Dale Spilberg, right, during Ellijay’s 4th of July Parade in 2022.
Partnered with the city of Ellijay and the Gilmer Chamber, the Downtown Ellijay Business and Community Association (DEBCA) hosted the Fourth of July celebrations with full returns to classic events and vendors in the downtown parking lot. Tourists and Citizens alike strolled the streets of Downtown Ellijay while listening to music, shopping, and playing games in the area while waiting for the evening to fall.
At 6 p.m., 34 separate groups joined into the annual 4th of July parade up River Street, around the square, and down North Main Street with Steve Dusek as the MC announcing the groups and their floats.
This years winners of the parade float contest went to Bradburn Towing for First Place in the commercial category and the Robbie Lit Band for First Place in community individuals. Robbie Lit also shared their float with the Gilmer County Animal Shelter.
“I felt like we had broken out of COVID cover,” said DEBCA President Pam Burns as she spoke on the large crowd and the festivities. She called it a “really good day” for both Ellijay and Gilmer as she heard reports from visitors to the area, vendors in the celebration, and those who stayed to watch the fireworks that the City of Ellijay hosted. She also noted that the parade’s judges were also visitors to our county.
Bradburn Towing won First Place in the commercial category for best float with their army jeep towed on the bed of one of their trucks.
Burns also was a part of last year’s celebrations and noted a distinct increase in the number of people who were involved in the parade and those watching in the streets. Even the parking lot only had enough room for one or two more vendors.
The day saw the return of many usual faces from the community as well as new faces making their splash in the area. From the in-costume reading of the Declaration of Independence to two live renditions of the National Anthem, the day held more than just vendors and parades during its events.
The city also got to meet Dane Spilberg, the first winner of Gumdrop’s Golden Ticket Contest. As the first winner, Spilberg received the Key to the City and was hailed as Grand Marshall alongside Seth Teagarden of the Gumdrop Fun Shop, on River Street, who played Willy Wonka for the parade. Spilberg received the Kay to the City from Ellijay Mayor Al Hoyle who presented the key just before the start of the parade.
Robbie Litt won first place in the community individuals category of best float with their partnership with the Gilmer Animal Shelter float the provided live music along the entire parade route.
Burns said it was the special efforts of people like Hoyle and volunteers like Mona Lowe and Steve Dusek who helped to make the day a truly special event. DEBCA also hosts other holiday parades downtown, such as the Light Up Ellijay Christmas Parade. Alongside volunteers, these events are brought together. But DEBCA still needs more, according to Burns. She said that at least 20 people could make the events go much smoother and easier. She compared the Fourth of July saying that DEBCA itself hosted five volunteers running throughout the day.
And running through the day herself, making sure everything progressed as normal, it wasn’t until late that evening that Burns said she received her own special moment of the day.
Walking through the downtown area, Burns said she saw people everywhere, on sidewalks, in yards and fields, eating at tables, and all getting ready for the soon to launch fireworks display. It was then, Burns said, that she was overcome with the people and the day. “This is a sense of community,” she said.
It is the driving force behind a community celebration, it is also the driving force behind Burns and DEBCA as she stressed both the business and community sides of the association.
City Council ends parking elimination, prepares for Light Up Ellijay
City Council November 16, 2021
GILMER, Ga. — The Ellijay City Council has voted to end the River St. parking elimination test early, and will move barricades to the downtown roundabout in preparation for Light Up Ellijay on Nov. 26.
During their October meeting, city council discussed the details of a controversial bid to eliminate downtown parking. Ultimately, at the recommendation of the DDA, the council voted to barricade only River St. parking and set a test period of Oct. 23 to Jan. 2.
However, at their latest meeting, the Ellijay City Council voted to remove the barricades from River St. early, and have them relocated to the roundabout for the Light Up Ellijay event. After the event, the barricades will be moved back to storage. There was some discussion about setting a new test period, but Police Chief Lacey said, “I think what we found out, is that it warrants further study by somebody who is more learned and has some stamps on their certifications.”
Barricades are currently in place to block parking along River St.
Light Up Ellijay is an annual event that serves as an unofficial beginning to the Christmas season for Ellijay residents. Each year, the downtown fills with residents coming to see the parade and watch the lighting of the Christmas tree. COVID-19 complications prevented the full celebration in 2020, but Light Up Ellijay is set to take place this year on Nov. 26, with the parade beginning at 6 p.m.
Apple Festival first weekend sets records for vendors
Community, News October 11, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Looking at record setting festivals like 2016, a single weekend reaching about 26,000 people visiting the Apple Festival, according to the Gilmer Chamber, may not seem like a record setting weekend. But the record comes from spending according to vendor reports that Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Grimmer shared with FYN.
Friday saw the Apple Festival Parade kick off the grand return to the annual event with its Golden Year theme to celebrate this being the 50th Annual Georgia Apple Festival. A somewhat shorter parade than usual was held in downtown Ellijay, at 6:00 p.m., as the parade followed its usual path up River Street, around the square, and down North Main Street. However, Grimmer said the quality of many of the floats have hit a high point this year, making the decisions for awards even harder.
First place winners in the parade floats, the Girl Scouts of America.
Those winners included the Girl Scouts in First Place, Artful Provisions in Second Place, and the Gilmer Animal Shelter in Third Place.
Grimmer also said that the Chamber may look to changing the day and time of the parade again next year, but will be looking for input from citizens and vendors on what day and time they feel would be better.
The festival commenced the day after the parade as vendors opened up to a very foggy morning on Saturday to officially open the gate for the return to festival days.
With many other surrounding county’s festivals like the Marble Festival in Pickens County cancelled again this year, thoughts were that attendance could increase this year. But within the first two days of the festival, the Chambers records report roughly 26,000 attendees came through the festivals fairgrounds. While many of these also visited downtown, many more attend the festival’s extension and secondary location called Apple Arts. With no gate or counter, there isn’t an estimate for how many attended Apple Arts that did not attend the festival on the fairgrounds. Grimmer noted that the Chamber is happy with the 26,000 attendees. Though it is not a record setting attendance weekend.
“We had an absolutely amazing weekend,” said Grimmer as she shared the attendance numbers. She explained her excitement as she also shared a report from the festival vendors. Many vendors reported sales not only increased over recent years, but exploded into unforeseen numbers. Many vendors sold out of their entire stock of merchandise in just two days or less. What they brought with them to last for two weekends did not even survive two days of this year’s festival.
Officially kicking off the 50th Annual Apple Festival, the Apple Festival Parade took place on Friday, October 8, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.
Even the local apple houses were feeling the demand as Grimmer reported one of the apple houses had to go mid-day to resupply and bring more apples to the fairground.
When asked, Grimmer said that yes, a few vendors said they would be unable to return next weekend because they simply don’t have or cannot get enough stock by then. Many others reported that they would be spending five days in full production mode and searching for supplies to return this Saturday to continue providing for demand. Many vendors reported this has been either their best or among their best weekends ever. The fairgrounds were not exclusive to this either as Apple Arts in Downtown shared similar stories from all of its vendors.
Grimmer surveyed as many vendors as she could to garner the response and experiences of this return to the event. Sharing the report of one vendor who has been at the festival for 20 years, Grimmer said, “He usually doesn’t make a sale until after lunch and he had people at his booth at 9:02 buying.”
Grimmer also explained how this translates to locals. In addition to sales for vendors, many of which are local artisans, local organizations and non-profits are feeling the increase with donations and things like parking lots and exposure through the festival. From the Lion’s Club to Boys and Girls Club and Boy Scouts, all are benefitting from the return of the festival. Of course the businesses are benefitting from the overflow through restaurants and local merchants. Grimmer shared a report from Misty Hollow experiencing “the third highest day ever.”
Third Place in the Apple Festival Parade, the Gilmer Animal Shelter.
So much business was being done that the Chamber experienced its own issues from trying to maintain the ATMs and refilling the machines and even had a short time when they ran out of $20 bills from most of the machines.
Surveying the vast majority of the vendors, she said that not one single vendor said they were disappointed or experiencing a down time.
Grimmer said their was some overwhelming feelings, but said that thanks to the staff helping out, volunteers running smoothly, and the return of former President Paige Hutto returning as a consultant, the festival has run smoothly and addressed issues to allow the success that it has seen. She even noted and said she’s been very thankful to how the community is working together. Vendors willingness to spread out in aid of social distancing and volunteers stepping to fill needs were just some of the things. Grimmer also said she has been really thankful that a couple vendors called ahead and though they had to cancel last minute, she said she was very proud of vendors saying they could have had a positive exposure and probably shouldn’t attend.
Even the house from the movie “UP” finds its way into Ellijay for the 50th Annual Apple Festival’s parade in downtown Ellijay.
But local community is a part of the efforts, too. Some locals are still staying at home to avoid the traffic and crowds, but many have been seen at both the fairgrounds and downtown, attending the parades, signing up to volunteer, signing up for the car show, participating in the 5k, dealing with the traffic, and continuing to support the Chamber and the annual event in all of its forms and outside programs.
The Chamber isn’t sitting on the success though. Grimmer noted that most of the Chamber staff don’t have a single day off between October 4 and October 22. What may seem strange is that while most of the time is spent continuing to deal with and prepare for the second weekend, some of this time is already preparing for next year. Taking notes and sharing ideas, Grimmer said that the Chamber is already looking at things that could be better done and are looking for public input like the parade times and working alongside the school system, the county, and its people.
Ellijay celebrates downtown for Independence Day
Community, News July 7, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Celebrations of Independence Day were in full swing this weekend with vendors, parades, and fireworks in Downtown Ellijay as the Downtown Ellijay Business and Community Association (DEBCA) hosted their 4th of July events.
Winner of the commercial category float contest, Moo-Bears Ice Cream is pictured here with the classic Pink Cadillac and trailer.
The celebration went all afternoon and evening as music flooded the streets, both live and recorded. On River Street, the Band Raven played during the day’s celebrations, the parade came down River Street, around the square, and along North Main just after 6 p.m. Other celebrations not connected to DEBCA or the city went on like live music at Mr. P’s Takeout where Rich Mountain Ramblers started playing just after the parade.
With police out in support of the celebration, the Ellijay Police Department offered help and guidance in the events and traffic control all day while also starring with their own representatives in the parade alongside Ellijay’s Fire Department and Gilmer Fire and Rescue. When asked just after the parade, local police said the day had gone very well with no real incidents or issues during the celebrations.
Georgia Speaker of the House, David Ralston joined in Ellijay’s Independence Day parade.
The parade was lead by cadets of Gilmer’s 507th Civil Air Patrol.
A huge turnout saw the mass of crowds returning to Downtown Ellijay that it hasn’t really seen since Christmas of 2019 as many events were cancelled or diminished after the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020.
The parade saw floats ranging from an antique GMC pickup for highlighting Shelter Dogs for Veterans to the Ellijay Jeepers to an appearance from Georgia House Speaker David Ralston.
Winner of the non-commercial category, Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter is pictured here with their “decked-out” patriotic Jeep.
Winners from the parade competition included Moo-Bears Ice Cream for the commercial category and Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter for the non-commercial category.
The city of Ellijay hosted their fireworks display just after dark in downtown Ellijay launching their show from behind the Ellijay Elementary School on McCutchen Street. Many people set up early in Harrison Park and along McCutchen Street along with more all over the Downtown area to view the display that saw some locals launching fireworks right up to and just after the city’s show.
To see more photos of the parade, the float contest winners, and fireworks from the Independence Day celebrations check out FYN’s Facebook Album.
Plan for Independence Day in Ellijay this Sunday
News July 1, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Coming right alongside many other events returning to normal this year, Ellijay’s Fourth of July celebrations are returning to the rather normal procession of things.
That may typically sound boring, but for many citizens, normal is exactly what they are looking for this summer. Returning to major public events after over a year separated, the Downtown Ellijay Business Association (DEBCA) is hosting the downtown party with music and a parade.
With the Fourth of July falling on Sunday this year, reports are that Ellijay will have vendors returning to the River Street lot, another return to normal, as they have in previous years. The parade will also return as the cap of DEBCA’s evening before handing over the festivities to the City of Ellijay. The city will then wait for dark before setting off their fireworks display.
For those wishing to view the show, it can typically be seen from almost anywhere downtown as the city launches the display from behind the Ellijay Elementary School.
Police are always on hand during the event providing safety with the crowds that typically start about noon, and stay in the area until after the display. Visiting the downtown area early can provide a day full of entertainment and shopping, but crowds begin tightening up closer to 6 p.m. as citizens find seats to watch the parade.
Ellijay will have Fireworks without a parade for July 4th
News June 15, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Chamber President/CEO Paige Hutto (formerly Paige Green) spoke with Ellijay City Council Members this week about details that many citizens are seeking regarding the upcoming 4th of July Celebration including the parade and fireworks.
She confirmed that there will not be a parade, but the Chamber will be spending this week in talks with Ellijay Police Chief Edward Lacey for details about safety, social distancing, and options for citizens to view the display. She confirmed with FYN that the fireworks will be launched from the area behind Ellijay Elementary School as normal. However, she mentioned thoughts about finding a way for citizens to view them like a “drive-in” movie theater, staying in vehicles or the bed of a truck to watch.
However, the thought was merely a preliminary thought, as she asserted that more details and discussions must be had with authorities on options and plans.
During the City Council Meeting, Hutto explained that they would be addressing these details more over the coming week and sharing that information with the public.
During the discussion, the council questioned for details on why there would not be a parade. Hutto explained that the original decision not to have a parade was made weeks ago based on Executive Orders from the Governor and the situation at the time. However, as times have changed and more people are returning to social and normal events, there simply was not enough time to plan a parade.
The process takes, typically, four to six weeks to plan and prepare for a parade. Now, as they return to plans for the celebration, the two and a half weeks set up is not sufficient to accomplish the entire process.
In addition to preparation, there were questions of who would assume responsibility for the festivities like a parade, be it the chamber or merchant’s association or another. Ultimately, the focus moving ahead, according to Hutto, is solely focused on putting on the fireworks display for citizens and accomplishing this safely for all involved.