Snellville Days
One of the best ways to experience what Snellville has to offer is to attend the annual Snellville Days Festival. According to the Southeastern Tourism Society, Snellville Days Festival is one of the top 20 tourist events held in the month of May and it features one of the best arts and crafts shows in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. First celebrated in 1974, the two-day event was originally intended to help raise funds to develop T. W. Briscoe Park but it has since evolved into a conglomeration of weekend fun activities with about 200 vendors of various hand-made arts and crafts, many food booths, a children’s activity center, lots of clowns, and a wonderful 1-hour long parade. The festival is held on the first weekend in May in T. W. Briscoe Park, from 9 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and from 10 AM to 5 PM on Sunday.
Snellville Days always begins with a parade of decorative floats
The parade begins around 10 AM on Saturday at the Wisteria Village Shopping Center and travels down Wisteria Drive, turns left on North Road, then turns left again on Oak Road and ends at City Hall. Many civic organizations, schools, churches, and businesses participate in the parade by entering creatively decorated floats, which are then judged on the basis of theme, originality and creativity. In 2008, the first place prize was $600, the second place prize was $400, and third place was awarded $200. There is no entry fee for floats, and additional information can be obtained by calling the Snellville Parks & Recreation Department Office at (770) 985-3535.
Snellville Days also features live music concerts and a Frisbee contest
The annual Snellville Days Evening Concert usually begins in the concert area at T. W. Briscoe Park around 6:30 PM on Saturday with some disco dancing, and then the real entertainment starts at 8 PM with well known groups like the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The Dog and Disc Competition is a Frisbee contest for dog owners and their Frisbee catching dogs, and it is also usually held on Saturday. Sponsored by Sports USA and hosted by the Greater Atlanta Dog & Disc Club, the Dog and Disc Competition has been entertaining participants and spectators for over 16 years. There is no admission fee for entering the Snellville Days Festival so it’s a great opportunity to bring the entire family, or to join with friends and neighbors for a weekend of fun.
Events
This year’s events include the annual Snellville Days Parade on Saturday morning, more than 150 craft and food vendors, a Children’s Activity Area with games and small rides, a Dog and Disc Competition, continuous live entertainment, a car show on Saturday, a 5K Road Race, and a Saturday evening concert.
Becoming a Sponsor
The organizers are looking for sponsors of all levels who will have their names advertised on the Snellville Days T-Shirt, as well as on the sponsorship board posted in the parking lot, and the sponsorship banner for the Saturday parade. Sponsors will also be listed in various newspapers and magazine articles, and also receive a website link from the city’s website. Information about the levels of sponsorship and a downloadable sponsorship application can be found at the festival’s website.
Volunteering
If you’d like to volunteer for the festival, contact the park office at 770-985-3535. All volunteers receive a free “Our Town… Honoring the Past” t-shirt.
Parade
This year’s annual parade will begin at 10 am on Saturday, May 3rd at Wisteria Village Shopping Center. The parade will travel down Wisteria Drive, turn left on North Road, turn left on Oak Road, and conclude at the new Snellville City Center. There is no entry fee for the parade. Floats will be judged on theme, originality, and creativity. First place receives a cash prize of $600. All participants and floats are encouraged to keep with the theme, “Our Town… Honoring the Past”, and thus demonstrate positive change and accomplishment over the years. Entry deadline for this year’s parade is April 8, 2008. A downloadable parade application can be found at the festival’s website.
Concert
This year’s Snellville Days concert will take place in Briscoe Park at 7 pm on Saturday, May 3rd. The headliner is the Atlanta Rhythm Section, who are originally from Doraville, Georgia and are often described as a more radio-friendly Allman Brothers or Lynryd Skynrd. Before the concert, there will be a 70’s Music and Disco Dance Floor in the concert area from 6 pm and a 1970’s costume and dance contest.
Dog and Disc Championship
The 15th annual Dog and Disc Championship will take place on both days of the festival. On Saturday, May 3rd there will be two Freestyle Divisions, a Super-Open and an Open Competition. On Sunday, May 4th there will be four Toss and Fetch divisions, a Super Pro, Pro, Novice, and a JR Kid’s Competition. Registration for both days takes place on site at 10am. The competition is from 11 am – 5 pm.
Car Show
The 15th annual Orphan Vehicle Celebration at Snellville Day’s Festival will take place between 9 am and 6 pm on Saturday, May 3rd. The hosts of this year’s event are the local chapters of the Studebaker Driver’s Club, the Packard Automobile Club, the American Motors Organization, Fiat Lancia Unlimited, and the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club. Admission is $15 per show car. Vendor fees are $35 for a 10’ x 10’ area, and $20 for each additional 10’ x 10’ space. It’s $25 to enter your car in the car corral. A downloadable Orphan Car Show flyer and application can be found at the festival’s website.
Directions
I-285 to Highway 78 east (Stone Mountain Freeway) about six miles east of Stone Mountain, turn right on Highway 124, then left at Henry Clower Blvd., then right on Lenora Church Road. T.W. Briscoe Park is about 1.5 miles on the left. Snellville is about 25-30 miles east of Atlanta.
Official Festival Website: SnellvilleDays.com