Celebrate America's Birthday with Us All Day on July 4th
The City of Cumming is gearing up for our biggest and best July 4th extravaganza ever! 

All the family-friendly fun begins at 10 a.m. with the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade through downtown Cumming. As in years past, the parade will journey down Castleberry/Tribble Gap Road from Forsyth Central High School to the Cumming Fairgrounds. Typically featuring more than a dozen of the antique engines, the parade is one of the nation's largest gatherings of these unique throwbacks to days gone by. The parade also features plenty of other vehicles, such as classic and modern cars, emergency service vehicles, motorcycles and floats, as well as all types of entries from local civic groups, government organizations, churches, schools, and businesses, among others. 

Be sure to arrive early for the best views, bring your own lawn chair if you don't want to stand throughout the approximately 2-hour long event, and take precautions for the heat such as staying well-hydrated and wearing sunscreen. Another consideration is wearing of 
earplugs as the antique engines are extremely loud when they release their steam; earplugs or other ear protection are especially recommended for young children. 

The fun continues after the parade at the Cumming Fairgrounds with our second annual all-day July 4th Festival, featuring various vendors and activities for the entire family. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and admission is $5 for ages 13+ (kids 12 and under are free), and parking is free.  The annual fireworks display will begin at 9:30 p.m., and last year's hot dog, pie, and pizza eating contests will again be held as part of the festival. For more information about the parade and festival, click here

This year's Fairgrounds Festival features a new addition from 37 Main - the Red, White & Rock concert from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. There is no additional cost to attend the concert beyond the $5 festival admission (for bleacher seating; floor seats can be purchased for an additional fee ranging from $12.99 to $24.99). Featured acts include Cowboy (Kid Rock tribute), 84' (Van Halen tribute), Rock the 90s USA, Thin Ice (Classic Rock), and Drop Tailgate (today's Country). For more information or to purchase floor seats, click here

Did you know?  This is the 62nd year of the Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade. Be sure to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and wear earplugs (especially young children) and arrive early for the best viewing! 

Tribute to Fallen Sheriff's Deputies Unveiled, Permanent Home will be Cumming City Center
During the June Fridays at the Fairgrounds event, Mayor Troy Brumbalow was thrilled to unveil a 1969 Chevrolet Impala that has been restored to honor the memory of two fallen Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputies. From Mayor Troy Brumbalow: 

I am honored to present this tribute to fallen deputies in Forsyth County. This car is a re-creation of the patrol vehicle that Deputy Bill Cantrell and Larry Mulkey were murdered in on January 10, 1972.

My hope is that it will honor their service and sacrifice to our community for years to come as well as other deputies that have been lost in the line of duty. It will be on permanent display at the City Center and will be a part of City parades going forward. 

This project was made possible by financial contributions from Northside-Forsyth Hospital, Civil Engineering Consultants, and Andean Chevrolet. Time, talents and materials were also donated by K&K Towing, Finishmaster, EC Signs, Greg Pirkle Upholstery, Lanier Wheel and Tire, Johnson's Body Shop, Johnson Muffler, Speedy Evans, Evan Roper and Sheriff Ron Freeman.

This project has been a dream of mine for several years and wouldn't have been possible without the help of former Sheriff Donald Pirkle. Here is the story of that fateful night: 

Chief Deputy Bill Cantrell and Special Deputy Sheriff Larry Mulkey were shot and killed during a traffic stop of a burglary suspect on US 19, south of Cumming. Chief Deputy Cantrell and Special Deputy Mulkey had stopped a vehicle they had seen the previous night leaving a country club, which was later discovered to have been burglarized later in the day. 

During the traffic stop, the suspects were able to disarm Chief Deputy Cantrell. He was handcuffed before he and Reserve Deputy Mulkey were forced into the patrol car's trunk. Once in the trunk, the suspects fatally shot them both.

Prior to approaching the vehicle one of the deputies had written down the license plate number on a piece of paper. That evidence led to the arrest and conviction of the suspects, who were later determined to be prison escapees who had made a pact to kill any officers who stopped them.

Vehicle Featured in Brandit-Inspired Promo Video 
Be sure to check out the '69 Impala in this fun video which is being used to help promote our July 4th festivities! Thank you to Sheriff Ron Freeman, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, and the video production team at the Forsyth County News for working with Mayor Brumbalow to create the video! (Note: No tax-payer funds were used in the creation of the video, nor were any laws actually broken during its production.) 

More Dates Added for Summer Music Series at the Fairgrounds
We've already had a rocking summer at the Cumming Fairgrounds with the first two of our music series events, and the third - Red, White & Rock - is just around the corner on July 4th. But we're not done yet! 

37 Main will present three more concerts at the Fairgrounds in coming months: 

Second Annual Cumming Music Fest - July 27th from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Benefiting Forsyth Family Haven, which assists women and their children who find themselves in domestic violence situations, this year's Cumming Music Fest will feature a dozen outstanding tribute acts honoring the talent of such greats as Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Guns N Roses, Jason Aldean, Ozzy Osbourne, Nirvana, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, Bad Company, and Green Day, as well as performances honoring the 80's MTV experience and the funk and disco genres. Tickets start at just $9.99. 



Rock for Rescue, Benefitting the Forsyth County Humane Society - Aug. 17th featuring Departure (Journey Tribute) and Electric Avenue ('80s MTV Experience). Stay posted to 37 Main and the City of Cumming and Cumming Fairgrounds' social media pages for more information about this concert. 
 
Joe Nichols - On Sept. 14th country superstar Joe Nichols (the man himself, not a tribute act) will perform at the Cumming Fairgrounds. From 2002's Man With a Memory on, Nichols harnessed his passion as a steady hit maker, racking up six No. 1's and eight Top 10's, including chart-topping modern classics like "Brokenheartsville" and "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off." He's a four-time Grammy nominee, an ACM, Billboard, CMA, and CMT Award winner, and his last album offering, "Crickets," kept the success going, sending both "Yeah" and "Sunny and 75" to Platinum-certified No. 1 status. Gates for this concert open at 3 p.m. 
Council Approves Alcohol Sales Agreement with 37 Main, Rosati's for Upcoming Events

During their June work session, City Council voted to accept an agreement with 37 Main and Rosati's which waives the alcohol permit fees for both businesses during their summer music events at the Fairgrounds. In lieu of the permit fees, the businesses instead pay the City 20% of their gross alcohol sales from the music events. The City had the same agreement with the businesses last year, which generated some $16,000 for the City versus the permitting fees which would have only been around $1,000 per event. 

Among other business during the June regular meeting and work session, City Council:   
  • Approved an amendment to the Emergency Management Ordinance. 
  • Rejected an Intergovernmental Agreement that had been proposed by Forsyth County regarding road maintenance. 
  • Heard a presentation regarding a proposed development on Ronald Reagan Boulevard, near Northside Hospital-Forsyth, that, if approved, could feature an upscale apartment building and 300-room hotel with conference center. Council tabled a vote on the development. 
  • Approved rezoning of the future City Center property to the category of Institutional, following a public hearing in which no one spoke for or against the rezoning. 
  • Approved the re-appointment of Robert Long, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development, as the city's Private Sector Representative on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Council. 
  • Approved an alcohol license for Cumming Cigar, LLC, the business which will soon be opening a cigar shop in the City's historic Sinclair Gas Station. 
  • Approved a contract renewal with Events Coordinators, Inc. for the midway portion of the Cumming Country Fair & Festival for a period of 10 years. 
  • Approved several purchases for Cumming Utilities including three F-150 Pickup Trucks a SCAGG lawn mower, and "settling basin covers" for use at the wastewater treatment plant.  
  • Approved the low bid from Strack, Inc. for emergency repairs to a gravity sewer line on 14th Street. 

Follow Us On Instagram
The City of Cumming now has an Instagram account, where we'll be posting beautiful images and hashtags to help promote City events and happenings. We're excited to add this additional communications tool to our arsenal and hope everyone will follow us @cityofcumming! We'll still be actively using our Facebook page @cummingcityhall too, so be sure to follow us on both social media platforms to stay as up to date as possible! 


The Duck Dive mascot was a duck out of water at our June Fridays at the Fairgrounds.
There's Still Time to Adopt a Duck and Support Forsyth County Schools
Visitors to the June Fridays at the Fairgrounds event may have noticed a large feathery friend making the rounds and encouraging patrons to adopt one of his fowl friends as part of  Forsyth County Education Foundation's Duck Dive. The dive event (a "duck pond" filled with thousands of rubber ducks where one person dives in and draws one duck as the winner) is right around the corner, but there is still time to adopt your own duck for the chance to win up to $10,000 while supporting educational programs in local schools. The Duck Dive will be held at the Fairgrounds on July 4th at 6:45 p.m. and ducks can be adopted through July 4th at 6 p.m. Adoptions can be made online, at the FCS Board of Education/Professional Development Center (1120 Dahlonega Highway), or at the Fairgrounds on July 4th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adopt those ducks! 

Cool Off this Summer with Our July Business Spotlight - Dairy Queen 
Our July Business Spotlight recipient has been serving up cool treats for more than half a century in downtown Cumming, and its multi-generational owners, the Willingham family, have been dishing up generosity for just as long. Read more about this beloved local hot (and cold) spot on the City of Cumming's Facebook page (@cummingcityhall)! 
Coming Soon
 
To the Cumming Fairgrounds

To the Cumming Aquatic Center 

To Tam's School Street Playhouse


July 4th Holiday Hours
  • City Hall will be closed all day. 
  • Cumming Fairgrounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. for July 4th festivities. 
  • Cumming Aquatic Center will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 
 
Meetings
  • City of Cumming Youth Council - July 9 at 5 p.m. (postponed from July 2 due to lack of quorum)
  • City Council Work Session (Gallery B, Second Floor of City Hall) - July 2 at 6 p.m. 
  • Planning & Zoning Board - July 16 at 5 p.m.  
  • City Council Regular Meeting - July 16 at 6 p.m. 
All meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance. Click here for previous meeting videos. 
Click here for City Council Agendas and Minutes.

Stay cool during the hot months of summer! 

 

Sincerely,   
City of Cumming
Division of Public Information