CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Downtown Clarkesville welcomed thousands of visitors Saturday for the 64th Annual Mountain Laurel Festival, filling the town square with arts and crafts, music, food, family activities, and one of Northeast Georgia’s longest-running traditions.
The daylong festival transformed the historic downtown into a bustling celebration as vendors, performers, community groups, and festivalgoers packed the streets from morning through the afternoon.
The annual parade kicked off at 10 a.m., drawing crowds along Washington Street and around the square. Colorful floats, marching bands, community organizations, and patriotic displays made their way through downtown as spectators lined the sidewalks waving and cheering.
Now Georgia streamed the full parade live from downtown Clarkesville, capturing what many consider one of Northeast Georgia’s favorite small-town traditions.
Following the parade, visitors spent the day shopping, sampling fair food and sweets, and exploring booths set up throughout the square and surrounding streets. Food trucks and vendors filled the old courthouse parking lot food court while local musicians and dance groups entertained crowds throughout the day.
Ginny Warp, owner of The Warped Bee, came stocked with her signature ‘hot honey,’ spiced with Ghost Pepper and Carolina Reaper extract. She said demand for the specialty honey has grown so quickly that keeping it stocked has become one of the biggest challenges for the business.
“Whether it’s chicken, salmon, roasted vegetables or popcorn, people are putting hot honey on everything,” Warp said.
Unique artwork and flavors weren’t the only things festivalgoers enjoyed. Historic attractions also drew visitors. The Historic Mauldin House and Gardens opened for tours of the 1880s farmhouse, millinery shop, and 1820s cabin, giving visitors a glimpse into the area’s history.
Families gathered at Pitts Park during the afternoon for a Family Fun Zone sponsored by Volunteers for Literacy (VFL). The nonprofit also hosted its annual Duck Race on the Soque River beginning at 2 p.m.
People stopped by the VFL duck booth throughout the day to adopt rubber ducks for a race on the Soque River, with proceeds benefiting literacy programs in Habersham County. Cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place added excitement to the popular community tradition.
