Greensboro’s Southland Jubilee – a Downtown Celebration

A Jubilee is a celebration, a time for festivities, a season of joy.  The third Saturday in April, Southland Jubilee in downtown Greensboro is just that.  The annual arts and crafts festival celebrates the town’s rural Georgia heritage as thousands of friends, neighbors and visitors descend on downtown Greensboro for a day of art, music, and old time fun.

Southland Jubilee celebrates the local artist who paints scenes of red dirt roads and faded barns that he remembers from childhood, the care taken in restoring a 1950’s model antique tractor, and the wood turner who still makes tables and chairs the way that his grandfather taught him. The jubilee in Southland Jubilee is the sense of place that is Greensboro.  It is the idea that there is still a place where you can come to town and see all of your neighbors. 

“Town is full of excitement as Jubilee approaches,” explains downtown manager and festival organizer, Kendrick Ward.  “Many people invite out-of-town family and friends, people travel from across the state, and everyone wants to know where along Main Street they’ll be able to find a funnel cake.” 

At this year’s festival, arts and crafts vendors lined Main Street, many demonstrating crafts from pottery to basket weaving to small crowds that gathered to watch.  The Jubilee Car Show features more than one hundred classic, hot rod, and special interest cars and trucks that stretched for over four blocks.  And pony rides and a petting zoo kept even the youngest visitors to Southland Jubilee entertained. 

Agricultural exhibits allow visitors to hold a baby chick, learn what it takes to show a cow or help feed a calf.  4-H program students could be seen proudly escorting their show calves throughout the festival by leash!

The Southland Jubilee Main Stage features live entertainment throughout the day.  Many of the singers, musicians, and dancers that took the stage were local talent from around the lake area.

Months of work from dozens of volunteers are needed to make the festival happen from year to year.  Long time volunteer, Mary Helen Brewer, enjoys working with Southland Jubilee because of sense of community it helps to build. 

“Greensboro is my home place. ,” she explains.  “I always enjoy giving back to the town that I grew up in. Southland Jubilee is also a place to see old friend you have not seen in a while.” 

Since it’s beginning in 1998, Southland Jubilee has been downtown Greensboro’s premier event and has grown to develop a reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts and family festival.  The festival brings thousands of people to the historic commercial district each year and remains a key tool in the city’s downtown revitalization toolbox.  The festival is produced by Greensboro’s Downtown Development office with the goal of exposing people to downtown in hopes that they will return to dine, shop, and stroll through our wonderful town on a regular basis.

Fall is here and the Holidays are near!

 

Greensboro readies for Trick or Treat and the Christmas Season

(Greensboro, Ga. – October 13, 2014)  Fall is here, the holidays are near, and Greensboro is busy preparing for plenty of excitement over the next few months in Lake Oconee’s Hometown.   

Just around the corner is the annual Downtown Trick or Treat from 5-7 pm on October 30.  Downtown Trick or Treat provides families with a safe environment to participate in the tradition of Trick or Treat.  The event is made possible by the participation of generous downtown Greensboro merchants including Dreamcatcher’s Art, Antiques & Collectibles, C. W. Smith Insurance, Genuine Georgia, Greensboro City Hall and The Yesterday Café; just to name a few!  Be sure to stop in at these and other downtown businesses for treats and goodies for children age twelve and under.

Soon after the pumpkins are removed, Greensboro will decorate with garland and lights since there are only twelve weeks until Christmas.  Downtown Greensboro is already working to help you and your family enjoy the holidays in your hometown! 

The downtown businesses will kick off the season with the Merchant’s Holiday Open House on November 8.  Get a head start on your shopping in Lake Oconee’s Hometown. Expect to find complimentary gift-wrap, hot cider, and other surprises to make your shopping experience more enjoyable. You will not want to miss the great items our local stores will have to share.

The search is on for the perfect tree to help Downtown Greensboro celebrate the holidays.  City leaders and downtown business owners are looking for a tree that will serve as the town tree this holiday season.

“In the past, Greensboro has been fortunate to have a tree donated from someone in the community,” explains Main Street Manager, Kendrick Ward.  “The tree serves as the centerpiece for all of our holiday activities in downtown and helps to create a festive mood during the Christmas shopping season.” 

Greensboro’s tree is typically a fresh cut evergreen.  Past trees have ranged from 20 to 30 feet in height.  The selected tree will stand on the Court House Lawn in historic Greensboro throughout the holiday season.  Organizers hope to have the tree in place by late November.

The Downtown Tree Lighting celebration will take place from 6-8 pm on the evening of Friday, December 5.  Mark your calendars!  Santa will be available for children to visit, there will be an old-fashioned hay ride through town, and your favorite holiday tunes will be sung ‘round the tree!  Come early and enjoy “Soups & Sammies” by Washington Grass Inn while local choirs and choral groups preform throughout the evening.

Local organizations and non-profits are invited to participate in the event by offering winter goodies such as hot chocolate, baked goods, or other holiday favorites.  Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening.  To register your organization, please contact the Main Street office at (706) 453-7674.

            Downtown Greensboro invites you to join us for fun and excitement in Lake Oconee’s Hometown throughout the fall and holiday seasons.  For more information about downtown Greensboro or for upcoming event information call (706) 453-7674 or visit www.downtowngreensboroga.com. 

Downtown Trick or Treat Thursday, October 30!

 

Greensboro Prepares for a Fun Time

(Greensboro, Ga. – October 20, 2014)  Kids and their families who are searching for a fun place to take part in the tradition of Trick or Treat can look to downtown Greensboro for a hauntingly good time!

Downtown Trick or Treat will take place from 5-7 pm on Thursday, October 30 in historic downtown Greensboro.  Many of Greensboro’s downtown merchants are ready to open their doors to children for the evening to help provide our community with a safe place to take part in the tradition of trick or treating.  Downtown store fronts and windows are decorated for the season and the merchants are ready for a scare as more than five hundred costumed Treat or Treaters are expected in downtown during the event.

Treaters should begin their evening with a visit to the Trick-or-Treat check-in tent on the courthouse lawn.  They will be given a free trick or treat bag, a treat and a list of participating businesses.  From there, children can head out to participating businesses for a treat and maybe a scare – as many merchants will be wearing costumes of their own! 

Downtown Trick or Treat is for children ages twelve and under.  Parents please escort your children to ensure a safe and fun time for all!  While you’re in town Mom and Dad, be sure to check out the unique shopping that downtown Greensboro has to offer.

Downtown Trick or Treat provides an opportunity for the downtown community to thank all of Greensboro for their patronage throughout the year.  For more information about Downtown Trick or Treat visit www.DowntownGreensboroGA.com

Shop Greensboro First

Greensboro begins preparations for holiday season celebrations

(Greensboro, Ga. – November 4, 2014)  There are only seven weeks until Christmas, and Downtown Greensboro is already working to help you and your family enjoy the holidays in your hometown! 

Downtown Greensboro kicked off its holiday season with the downtown merchant’s Holiday Open House, Saturday, November 8. Greensboro’s friendly merchants are ready to help you get all of your holiday shopping done this season – without the hectic traffic and crowds of your typical shopping mall.  Shoppers can take advantage of extended holiday shopping hours on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season.

The search is on for the perfect tree to help Downtown Greensboro celebrate the holidays.  City leaders and downtown business owners are looking for a tree that will serve as the town tree this holiday season.

“In the past, Greensboro has been fortunate to have a tree donated from someone in the community,” explains Main Street Manager, Kendrick Ward.  “The tree serves as the centerpiece for all of our holiday activities in downtown and helps to create a festive mood during the Christmas shopping season.” 

Greensboro’s tree is typically a fresh cut evergreen.  Past trees have ranged from 20 to 30 feet in height.  The selected tree will stand on the Court House Lawn in historic Greensboro throughout the holiday season.  Organizers hope to have the tree in place by early December.

Everyone is invited to the annual Downtown Tree Lighting on December 5. The tree lighting celebration will take place in Downtown Greensboro on the Courthouse Lawn from 6-8 pm. This is an evening of music, food, and holiday fun. It is rumored that Santa will be in town for pictures. Children, be sure to bring your wish list to historic Downtown Greensboro to give to Santa in person.

There will be an old-fashioned hayride through town and your favorite holiday tunes sung ‘round the tree!  Don’t miss everyone’s favorite activity, marshmallow roast hosted by Greene County’ Future Farmers of America. Local organizations and non-profits are encouraged to participate in the event.  Your organization is invited to take this opportunity to fundraise with goodies such as hot chocolate, baked goods, hot apple cider, candied apples, and other holiday favorites.  Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening.  To suggest or offer a tree  or to register an organization, choir, or choral group, please contact the Main Street office at (706) 453-7674.

Keep an eye on your local news or check out the new Greensboro Holiday website at www.GreensboroHoliday.com for additional details as Greensboro’s Holiday Plans progress and don’t forget to Shop Greensboro First this holiday season!

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The Holidays are Coming!

 

Greensboro begins preparations for holiday season celebrations

(Greensboro, Ga. – November 10, 2014)  There are only seven weeks until Christmas, and Downtown Greensboro is already working to help you and your family enjoy the holidays in your hometown! 

The Downtown Tree Lighting celebration will take place on the evening of Friday, December 5.  Mark your calendars!  Santa will be available for children to visit, there will be an old-fashioned hayride through town, and your favorite holiday tunes sung ‘round the tree! 

Local organizations and non-profits can participate in the event by offering winter goodies such as hot chocolate, baked goods, or other holiday favorites.  Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening.  To register your organization, please contact the Main Street office at (706) 453-7592.

The search is on for the perfect tree to help Downtown Greensboro celebrate the holidays.  City leaders and downtown business owners are looking for a tree that will serve as the town Christmas Tree this holiday season.

“In the past, Greensboro has been fortunate to have a tree donated from someone in the community,” explains Main Street Manager, Kendrick Ward.  “The tree serves as the centerpiece for all of our holiday activities in downtown and helps to create a festive mood during the holiday shopping season.” 

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Greensboro’s Christmas tree is typically a fresh cut evergreen.  Past trees have ranged from 20 to 30 feet in height.  The selected tree will stand on the Court House Lawn in historic Greensboro throughout the holiday season.  Organizers hope to have the tree in place by early December.  To suggest or offer a tree, please contact the Greensboro Main Street Office at (706) 453-7674.

Keep an eye on your local news for additional details as Greensboro’s Holiday Plans progress and don’t forget to Shop Greensboro First this holiday season!

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A Tree is Found!

 

Greensboro Selects Christmas Tree

 

(Greensboro, Ga. – November 21, 2014)  Greensboro has chosen its Christmas Tree!

After an appeal to the community for just the right tree, the Greensboro Main Street program announces that the city’s official Christmas Tree will be donated by Mr. Charlie Marshall.

“Mr. Marshall called to tell us that he had another tree he would like to donate,” explains Kendrick Harris Greensboro Main Street Manager.   “Mr. Marshall’s Leyland Cypress will make a wonderful Christmas tree for all of Greene County to enjoy this holiday season”. 

City workers will deliver the tree to the Court House lawn the week after Thanksgiving where it will be decorated in time for the downtown tree lighting.   The tree lighting celebration will take place on the Courthouse lawn from 6-8 pm on Friday, December 5.

There will be an old-fashioned hayride through town, and your favorite holiday tunes sung ‘round the tree!  Greensboro’s Tree Lighting event is a family favorite for the Lake Oconee area with an evening of music, food, holiday fun, and of course Santa!

The City of Greensboro reports that they have received a special request from the North Pole for a tractor pulled hay ride escort the evening of the tree lighting.  City officials can only imagine that the escort must be for Santa himself!  “We figure with the lack of snow in Greensboro that Santa’s sleigh just wouldn’t be able to make the trip into town,” comments an anonymous city employee.  Children, be sure to be in historic downtown Greensboro when Santa makes his entrance at 6 pm.

Local organizations and non-profits are encouraged to participate in the event. This year Future Farmers of America (FFA) will do their famous marshmallow roast and camp fires, Knights of Columbus will have hot cocoa and cider, Shirley Selman will have her delicious gingerbread houses, there will be Christmas crafts for the kids, knitted gift items and the Liberty Methodist Ladies will have wonderful goodies to sell.  Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening.  We have two spots open for the Main Stage. To register your organization, your choirs and or choral groups please contact the Main Street office at (706) 453-7674.

Greensboro’s friendly merchants are ready to help you get all of your holiday shopping done this season – without the hectic traffic and crowds of your typical shopping mall.  Shoppers can take advantage of extended holiday shopping hours on Friday and Saturday evenings from now and continuing through December 23.

Keep an eye on your local news for additional details as Greensboro’s Holiday Plans progress and don’t forget to Shop Greensboro First this holiday season!

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Santa Claus is coming to Town This Friday

 

Downtown Greensboro Prepares to light the Big Tree

(Greensboro, Ga. --- December 2, 2014)  Downtown Greensboro will light the Big Tree this Friday, December 5.  The event is Greensboro’s official kick off for the holiday season and will take place from 6 to 8 pm. 

Bring the whole family for an evening of music, food, holiday fun, shopping, and of course Santa in downtown Greensboro. It is rumored that Santa will arrive on a big red tractor this year…instead of his sleigh; so children, get your wish lists ready and be sure to be in historic downtown Greensboro when he arrives at 6 pm.  Santa will be available in Festival Hall on the corner of North Main and Greene Street esand parents can purchase a professional photo of their child with Santa provided by Melissa Pepin Photography from Athens, Georgia. 

Activities for the children include visiting the craft tent on Main Street in front of the Court House where they can make a Christmas Ornament for their trees at home. Children can also roast marshmallows with the Future Farmers of America or take a tractor pulled hay ride around town.

Come for dinner at the event!  Find a warm, cozy booth at one of Greensboro’s downtown restaurants, visit the Washington Grass Inn’s Christmas Café under the big tent in North Main Street for homemade potato soup and barbeque “sammies” or grab a hotdog and hamburger from one of our local church groups. Stay warm with a cup of hot apple cider prepared by the Knights of Columbus.

Be sure to visit the craft vendors and pick up a holiday gift for a loved one. New items this year include gingerbread houses, knitted baby items and a jewelry vendor.

Christmas carolers and community churches will be singing favorite holiday tunes on stage in front of the Court House lawn. Beginning at 6pm, the Lake Oconee Academy concert band will perform a few holiday favorites including “Chaotic Christmas” and “Here Come Santa Clause”. Around 6:30pm, the Pete Nance Boys & Girls club will perform an excerpt from they holiday play. Then at 7pm, the Honorable Mayor Glenn Wright will welcome Charlie Marshall to the stage to thank him for donating his Arizona Cypress for the Courthouse lawn. Then the Mayor will lead everyone in the countdown to light the tree. Up next will be The Eatonton Harmonttes performing all of your favorite Christmas songs. And last, but not least, the Southern Spice Dance Academy will perform dance number to get you in the holiday spirit.  It is not too late to for other church choirs or singing groups to join in the fun.  Groups that are interested in performing downtown during the event should contact the Kendrick Harris in the Greensboro Main Street office at (706) 453-7674.

Shopping takes center stage this Friday night, as Greensboro’s friendly merchants are ready to help you find gifts for everyone on your list this season – without the hectic traffic and crowds of the typical shopping mall. 

Make Greensboro your shopping destination this holiday season! Shoppers can take advantage of extended holiday shopping hours all season long Friday and Saturday evenings from now and continuing through Christmas.

  For more information holiday events in downtown contact the Greensboro Main Street Program at (706) 453-7674 or visit www.GreensboroHoliday.com. 

Southland Jubilee Calls for Volunteers

 

(Greensboro, Ga. – March 11, 2015)  – Each year Greensboro welcomes thousands of people to Southland Jubilee, the region’s largest heritage arts festival. Southland Jubilee is looking for volunteers to welcome these people into downtown Greensboro.

Each year numerous volunteers dedicate their time to the success of the festival. Without the help of these gracious people, Southland Jubilee would not be the event that it is every single year.

Southland Jubilee is calling for volunteers. Volunteer shifts include, 5:30-8pm Friday, April 17 assisting with vendors checking in, decorating the Main Stage sponsored by Reynolds Plantation and The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, setting up tables and chairs, and working to decorate the Children’s Area.

The volunteer duties do not stop there. There are also shifts on Saturday, April 18 all day long. These shifts include, 6:30-10am assisting with vendor check in, helping set up tents, decorate the entrance ways, and other duties that may apply. If that early in the morning is not your friend, we also have duties starting at 9:30am until 4pm. These duties include, volunteering in Festival Hall, working in Southland Jubilee Headquarters, selling merchandise, and giving out information. The last shift of the day begins at 4pm. This shift will include helping remove decorations from the entranceways, assisting vendors with taking down tents, and packing up the Jubilee information.

 

Volunteers are very essential to those managing the festival. Please considering helping Southland Jubilee make its 17th year great by volunteering your time to help set up the festival. All volunteers will be rewarded with a free festival T-shirt if they sign up by April 8.

For those who are interested in volunteering at Southland Jubilee, contact Kendrick Ward, Southland Jubilee Chair, at (706) 453-7674 or e-mail at kward@greensboroga.gov.

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

 

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Cruise In Car Show Returns to Downtown Greensboro

Popular Downtown Event Scheduled for 4-8 pm, September 20

(Greensboro, Ga. --- August 29, 2014) On September 20th  downtown Greensboro will host the annual Rock and Roll classic car cruise-in. This very popular event, which draws over 100 cars and 1000 spectators each year, will take place in the historic downtown area. It will feature awards and door prizes for participants, live music by the Blind Driver for both participants and spectators and plenty of food at local restaurants. The Cruise-In will run from 4-8 pm, so come join the fun on what is expected to be another great evening in Greensboro.

All spectators are free and will enjoy classic cars from the pre-50’s, muscle cars from the 60’s and 70’s and a variety of sports cars. The shops of Downtown Greensboro will stay open late to welcome visitors from as far away as Macon, Atlanta and Augusta.

Blind Driver, based out of Greene County, GA, is an energetic, experienced group of musicians whose charisma and enthusiasm packs the dance floor while keeping their audience groovin’ to the beat!  The band’s strong vocals added to the driving rhythm of the percussion gives the group a full sound and allows them to play a wide range of  memorable tunes like Beach, Soul and Motown.  So, dust off your dancing shoes, practice your “cool moves” and plan to dance the night away under the stars in downtown Greensboro!

The Georgia Classic Cruisers Car Club has been hard at work planning this event along with the help and support of the Greensboro Better Hometown Program and are looking forward to another successful cruise-in. The Cruise-in is sponsored by Jimmy Britt Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac and The Yesterday Café.  Support from these sponsors make possible the much anticipated Cruise In awards for participants.

Please add September 20th from 4-8 pm to your calendar and plan to support another great community event.  For questions you can contact Greensboro Main Street program at (706) 453-7674 or Ron Hazzard at (706) 467-9306.