Visitors from across the state strolled the streets of historic downtown Greensboro on Saturday, April 19 at the 16th Annual Southland Jubilee.

Historic downtown Greensboro kicked off the Easter weekend with the annual Southland Jubilee, drawing in approximately 2,000 – 3,000 attendees. Visitors from near and far paraded the streets of downtown Greensboro to participate in an array of family-friendly festivities, packed with arts and crafts, food, a classic car show, antique tractors, agriculture exhibits, children’s activities and live entertainment.

Southland Jubilee welcomed many new and returning vendors to this year’s festival, Festival attendees shopped for one-of-a-kind treasures that can only be found at Southland Jubilee.

Southland Jubilee prides itself on offering the most exclusive and unique vendors of handmade arts and crafts and favorite-festival foods. 

Not only did vendors line down Main Street, but Festival Hall also housed several vendors and a Native American performance throughout the day.

The second annual Southland Jubilee signature dish competition was a big success. This year’s big winner was the Chicken Salad.

Festival-goers also enjoyed live entertainment throughout the day at the Reynolds Plantation and The Ritz-Carlton Lodge Main Stage. John Dunn and The Jazzmen kicked off the festival and Blind Driver closed the day with their classic rock tunes.

Agricultural exhibits invited guests to visit the petting zoo and allowed guests to hold small baby ducks and rabbits.

The Georgia Classic Cruisers Car Show debuted an array of vintage cars including antique, classic, muscle, hot rod and other special interest cars and trucks, stretching down South Main Street.

Since its beginning in 1998, Southland Jubilee has been downtown Greensboro's premier event, developing a reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts festival. Whether it is the live performances, arts and crafts, classic cars, heritage demonstrations, children's activities, festival foods or agricultural and antique tractor exhibits, attendees found old favorites and a few new surprises at this year’s award winning festival.

Be sure to mark your calendar for Greensboro’s summer event, Pickin’ on the Greene on June 27, 2014, from 7 – 10 p.m. for a toe-tapping good time.

For more information on upcoming events, please visit www.downtowngreensboroga.com.

About Southland Jubilee

Southland Jubilee is a day-long heritage arts festival that takes place in the heart of historic downtown Greensboro. Southland Jubilee is produced by the Greensboro Better Hometown Program and the Greensboro Downtown Development Authority with support from the City of Greensboro. Since its beginning in 1998, this annual spring festival has been downtown Greensboro’s main community event and has developed the reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts and family festival. The festival’s goal is to attract people to the town with the hope that they will return to the community and future events.  

Stroll the streets of historic downtown Greensboro at the 16th Annual Southland Jubilee this Saturday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since its beginning in 1998, Southland Jubilee has been downtown Greensboro's premier event, developing a reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts festival. Visitors from near and far will parade the streets of downtown Greensboro to participate in an array of family-friendly festivities, packed with arts and crafts, food, a classic car show, agriculture exhibits, children’s activities and live entertainment.

Southland Jubilee is excited to welcome many new and returning vendors to this year’s festival.

Southland Jubilee prides itself on delivering the most exclusive and unique vendors which will line the Main Streets with handmade arts and crafts and favorite-festival foods. Over 8,000 festival attendees shop for one-of-a-kind treasures that can only be found at Southland Jubilee. At this year’s festival, visitors can expect to find handmade jewelry, woodcrafts, authentic English toffee, dog treats, handcrafted pottery, children’s clothing, traditional festival food as well as red velvet funnel cake and authentic tacos. 

Not only will vendors will line the Main Streets, Festival Hall will also house several vendors. Also, Festival Hall will have a  Native American performance at 11am and 3pm. The Greensboro Art Alliance will show Abandoned Rural America Video, A Short Story of the American Small Family-Farm in Transition. And back by popular demand, Southland Jubillee’s Signature dish competition by the Greene County High School Culinary Arts students. Festival Hall is sponsored by Novelis.

Festival-goers can also enjoy live entertainment throughout the day at the Reynolds Plantation and The Ritz-Carlton Lodge Main Stage. John Dunn and The Jazzmen will kick off the festival by taking the stage, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The Greene County Fire Department will have a drills competition from 12-12:30. The Lake Oconee Academy Concert Band will be performing at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. and be sure to catch Blind Driver, a classic rock band, starting at 2 – 4 p.m.

In addition to the handmade arts and craft vendors, the younger attendees will be delighted with the Children’s Area. This area will include a rock-climbing wall, spider jump, bounce houses and crafts of sand art and face painting, sponsored by Greene County Family Connections.

Agricultural exhibits will allow guests to hold small baby chicks, visit the petting zoo and other farm animals including calves, sheep and ducks from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., sponsored by Farm Bureau and 4-H. 4-H students will show off their skills of how to show goats from 10-11:30am and how to show calves from 12:40-2pm. If you like horticulture, be sure to stop by the agriculture tent to plant your own sunflower, from seeds provided by The Garden Club and Greensboro Tree Board, and take it home to watch it grow.

Stroll down South Main Street to view an array of vintage cars at the Georgia Classic Cruisers car show. The car show will feature as many as 150 antique, classic, muscle, hot rod and other special interest cars and trucks, stretching over four blocks long. Registered cars will also have the opportunity to win awards.

Antique tractors will also make an appearance at the festival and will line Greene Street, sponsored by Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull.

Southland Jubilee Headquarters will be located in front of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce office on North Main Street. Stop by to purchase your very own 2014 Southland Jubilee official T-shirt and to pick up the festival map and brochure. Jubilee Headquarters is sponsored by Angela Taylor Creative and Blue Sky Custom Apparel, Inc.

DOCK 103.9FM will broadcast a live remote radio broadcast and for all of your first aid needs, please visit the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital tent.

Whether it is the live performances, arts and crafts, classic cars, heritage demonstrations, children's activities, your favorite festival foods or agricultural and antique tractor exhibits, attendees will find old favorites and should expect to find a few new surprises at this award winning festival.

With 8,000 people anticipated and Southland Jubilee continuing to grow each year, it has developed the reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts and family festival.

“Southland Jubilee is the ‘Everything Festival’,” said Kendrick Harris, Southland Jubilee Chair. “Our festival has something for every age and is fun for the whole family.”

This festival is unlike any of its kind. Along with exposing visitors to the charm of Greensboro and providing attendees with a day full of fun, it is also a day that brings the community together.

This festival is possible because of the generous financial support from the local businesses listed below.

Reynolds Plantation, The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Lake Oconee Tourism, Angela Taylor Creative, Easley Yard Care, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, Farmers Bank, Blue Sky Custom Apparel, Inc., Novelis, Advanced Disposal, Georgia Power, TenderCare Clinic, Peachtree Pest Control, BankSouth, Dock 103.9FM, Lake Country 94.7FM, NIBCO, Inc., Athens Technical College, C.W. Smith Insurance Agency, Standridge Color Corporation, and Goodwin Manor.

For more information regarding the festival, please visit www.SouthlandJubilee.com

About Southland Jubilee

Southland Jubilee is the Everything Festival. A day-long heritage arts festival that takes place in the heart of historic downtown Greensboro. Southland Jubilee is produced by the Greensboro Better Hometown Program and the Greensboro Downtown Development Authority with support from the City of Greensboro. Since its beginning in 1998, this annual spring festival has been downtown Greensboro’s main community event and has developed the reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts and family festival. The festival’s goal is to attract people to the town with the hope that they will return to the community and future events.  

Southland Jubilee seeks volunteers in preparation for award-winning festival on April 19 in historic downtown Greensboro. 

There are numerous ways to get involved with this annual festival, whether you are helping vendors check in and set up the night before the festival or taking pictures of guests at the step and repeat photo booth throughout the day of the festival. No matter how strong or small, Southland Jubilee could use your help in getting ready for the region’s largest heritage arts festival. 

“Southland Jubilee simply would not happen without the support of volunteers who serve on the steering committee, help out during the weekend of the festival and give their own special skills and talents to serve our community,” stated Community Development Director, Cail Hammons. 

Whether you’re a night owl, an early bird or a late riser, there is a way for everyone to help. Volunteer shifts begin on Friday, April 18. From 5:30 – 8 p.m., volunteers will assist with vendor check in, decorating the Main Stage and setting up tables and chairs.

Volunteer shifts also take place throughout the day on Saturday, April 19; with the first shift beginning at 6:30 a.m. and the last beginning at 4 p.m. Morning shifts include assisting with vendor check in, helping set up tents and decorating entrance ways. Afternoon shifts include running Southland Jubilee Headquarters, selling merchandise, giving out information and taking pictures. At the end of the festival, volunteers are needed to help clean up, remove decorations from entranceways, assist vendors with taking down tents and packing up Southland Jubilee Headquarters. Without the help of volunteers, Southland Jubilee would not be the award-winning festival that it has become. 

Some members of the community make it their mission to volunteer each year at the festival to help in the efforts of its success. Mary Helen Higdon Brewer made volunteering at Southland Jubilee a part of her annual routine since 2005 and she keeps coming back for more. 

“I grew up coming to Southland Jubilee each spring, so getting to be on the inside is a lot of fun,” said Brewer. “I had no idea how much planning and hard work it takes to make Southland Jubilee happen.”

Over the last nine years, Brewer has been on Main Street well before dawn, wearing her Southland Jubilee volunteer shirt and ready to help wherever she is needed. Over the years, she has registered festival vendors, set up tents, moved hay bales, manned road barricades and even square danced on stage at Festival Hall. 

Brewer has just about done it all when it comes to helping prepare for the annual festival and her selfless efforts have not gone unrecognized. Brewer was awarded with the Best Volunteer title at the silver level at the Southeast Festivals and Events Kaleidoscope Awards in Savannah, Ga., on Feb. 18. 

“Yes, I get up really early to help organize on the day of the festival, but it’s fun to greet everyone and see how excited they are about the festival,” said Brewer. 

For those who are interested in volunteering, please contact Kendrick Harris at kharris@greensboroga.gov. 

For more information about Southland Jubilee, please visit www.SouthlandJubilee.com. 

About Southland Jubilee

Southland Jubilee is a day-long heritage arts festival that takes place in the heart of historic downtown Greensboro. Southland Jubilee is produced by the Greensboro Better Hometown Program and the Greensboro Downtown Development Authority with support from the City of Greensboro. Since its beginning in 1998, this annual spring festival has been downtown Greensboro’s main community event and has developed the reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts and family festival. The festival’s goal is to attract people to the town with the hope that they will return to the community and future events.