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| Cumming Country Fair Brings Family Fun and Thrills Oct. 5-15 |
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Patrons enjoy the pirate ship ride during a previous fair. |
The Cumming Country Fair & Festival returns to the Cumming Fairgrounds Oct. 5-15, bringing blockbuster concerts, rides and carnival games, history and craft exhibits, and lots fun for the whole family.
This year's concert lineup features Kellie Pickler on Oct. 6, Gene Watson on Oct. 10, and Thompson Square on Oct. 12. Other entertainment options include the Marvel Super Heroes Team on Oct. 11, American Bull Riders' Tour on Oct. 14 and 15, and numerous daily ground acts and exhibits, such as returning favorites: Oscar the Robot; Michelle's Magical Poodles; Brian Ruth, Master of the Chainsaw; and the North Georgia Petting Zoo and Pony Rides.
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| Firemen High Dive, a new ground act, is sure to be exciting. |
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New ground acts this year include:
Lady Houdini - An escape artist who has successfully performed thousands of public feats and broken Harry Houdini's record for the most water escapes ever. She is currently the only female anywhere in the world attempting the water torture cell.
Horses, Horses, Horses
- Lisa Dufresne delights and entertains the entire family. She has taken her life-long love and passion for animals and transformed it into a stunning show of animal mastery. She is traveling with three horses and nine American miniatures. Her horses perform five acts, including a comedy show!
Firemen High Dive Show
- Big splashes in a small pool! In addition to comedy dives, this show features Olympic-style dives, a high dive and a fire dive! Parents and kids of all ages will be amazed and enjoy this engaging and family-friendly show.
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Guests wait for fried fair treats. |
Cowboy Woody
- Todd Key can be tall. Really, really tall. When he's up on stilts, he is over 10 feet tall and can be seen from over 100 yards away, which means he'll be easy to find at the fair. Whether he is juggling, ball-spinning, or lasso-twirling, he's a man we can all look up to.
Atlanta Puppet Show
- This kid-focused show features marionettes and other puppetry styles from master puppeteer, Peter Hart.
Of course the fun also includes daily historical displays and demonstrations in the Fairgrounds' Heritage Village and Cherokee Indian Village; high-quality carnival rides and games on the Drew Exposition Carnival Midway; and tons of tasty treats and exhibits from dozens of fair vendors.
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Did you know? The Cumming Country Fair & Festival was first held in 1995, but at that time was only five days in duration. Over the years, the event has grown into the 11-day extravaganza we all know and love today!
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Sawnee Artists' Workshops Begin at Brannon-Heard House
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Bonnie Flood
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The Sawnee Association of the Arts (SAA) will kick-off its new adult art education program at Cumming's Brannon-Heard House with a three-day workshop Oct. 10-12, featuring acclaimed artist Bonnie Flood.
Most well known for providing painting instruction to former President George W. Bush in 2013, Flood will teach participants about the use of oils during the workshop, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, with lunch provided.
"I am so excited about being asked to teach at the beautiful Brannon-Heard House," Flood said. "My goal in teaching any class is to bring new ideas and the passion for painting."
Flood's workshop is the first of many for SAA's new adult art education program, which seeks to provide adults with an expanded knowledge of a wide range of artistic techniques and mediums in a relaxed and fun environment. All workshops and classes in the program are open to the public, but require registration through the SAA website.
Other SAA courses slated for October at the Brannon-Heard House include:
- Four-Week Oil Class with Ruby Bagby - Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 7.
- Abstract Painting with Acrylics with Katie Phillips - Oct. 10 or Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Acrylics Crash Course with Katie Phillips - Oct. 11 or Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Color Pencil Techniques with Kris Straukas - Oct. 12 or Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Creative Pattern Design (Zentangle®) with Kris Straukas - Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For complete SAA workshop information, including costs and how to register, click here. To learn more about Bonnie Flood, click here.
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Council Evaluates Zoning Fee, Honors Wastewater Employees
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During the September meeting of the Mayor and City Council, members provided time for several residents of the Maketplace Commons development to express their concerns about an $85-per-month residential services fee, which they are required to pay because of the development's Multi-Use (MU) Zoning designation.
City Attorney Kevin Tallant explained that since the MU zoning category is utilized by developments that include both commercial and residential tracts, the residential services fee was self-imposed by the developer of Marketplace Commons as a way to compensate the City for the lower revenue that would be generated by the mixed use development as compared to a strictly commercial development.
Marketplace Commons is the first development to fall under the MU zoning category, and thus its residents are the first to pay the $85-per-month fee, which is earmarked by the City for use only in their neighborhood to pay for needs such as street signs, traffic signals or road repaving.
After hearing residents' concerns, the consensus of Mayor H. Ford Gravitt and Council seemed to be that the $85 monthly fee may be too high. Mayor Gravitt appointed a committee - which includes himself, Council members Chuck Welch and Linda Ledbetter, and three residents of the the neighborhood - to work together on a recommendation to present at the October City Council meeting.
In other business during the September meeting, City Council:
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| Cumming Utilities' Wastewater Treatment Facility staff |
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Recognized staff of the Cumming Utilities' Wastewater Treatment Facility for receiving their 19th consecutive Platinum Award from the National Association of Water Professionals. The award recognizes water and wastewater facilities that are among the best in the nation. Jon Heard, Cumming Utilities Director, noted that the award represents the fact that the facility has met all requirements of both national and state regulatory agencies, such as the EPD and EPA, for 19 years in a row with no permit violations. Heard thanked the Mayor and Council for their support throughout the years. "Your leadership and investment in our water and wastewater facilities has made this possible," he said. Mayor and Council in turn thanked Heard, Wastewater Superintendent Jimmy Andrews, and the staff for their diligence and hard work.
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Chestatee River Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution |
- Presented members of the Chestatee River Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution with a proclamation recognizing Sept. 19-23 as Constitution Week, in honor of the 230th anniversary of drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention. The resolution urges "all citizens to study the Constitution and to express gratitude for the privilege of American citizenship."
- After hearing a request from a resident of Marketplace Commons for the City to provide curbside recycling as part of its garbage pick-up service, Council voted to approve a recommendation made by Mayor Gravitt to form a committee, comprised of Council members Christopher Light and Quincy Holton, to look into the interest level of providing the service citywide and bring back a recommendation during the October meeting. Gravitt also suggested conducting a survey and having the City's sanitation contractor, Rakestraw Inc., provide a cost estimate for the service.
- Received an update from Jason McCook, an engineer with Moreland Altobelli, on installation of a new traffic light at Lanier 400 Parkway, Parkside Walk, and Pilgrim Mill Road. The signal was requested by residents of the Parkside at Pilgrim Mill subdivision in May because of increased traffic in the area due to construction of the Alliance Academy on Lanier 400 Parkway. McCook said there had been a delay in the project due to problems obtaining the specific type of mast arms needed.
- Approved a resolution formally accepting the streets within Stonehaven subdivision as City streets. Attorney Kevin Tallant explained that in 1993 the streets in Stonehaven were deeded to the City, but had never been formally accepted. The resolution means the City will take over maintenance of all streets and signs within the subdivision.
- Approved a request made by Code Enforcement Officer John Coffman to declare 606 Pine Lake Drive a nuisance property under the City's Nuisance Ordinance, and notify the owner that the property needs to be cleaned up.
- Approved purchase of a floor scrubbing machine for use on the basketball courts at Dobbs Creek Recreation Center.
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Coming Soon
To the Cumming Playhouse
- "Fiddler on the Roof" - Oct. 13-Nov. 5; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.
- "Sanders Family Christmas" (Sequel to "Smoke on the Mountain") - Nov. 24-Dec. 10; Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.
To the Cumming Fairgrounds
- Cumming Country Fair and Festival - 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
- Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Trunk or Treat Event - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 21.
- Fast Pace Race for Prostate Cancer Research - Oct. 28 and 29.
Click here for calendar. Meetings
- Planning & Zoning Board - 5 p.m. Oct. 17.
- City Council - 6 p.m. Oct. 17.
All meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance. Click here for previous meeting videos. |
| We hope to see you all at this year's Cumming Country Fair and Festival!
Sincerely,
City of Cumming
Division of Public Information
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