Riding and roping action returns to the Cumming Fairgrounds arena Sept. 2-4! The IPRA World Championship Rodeo brings three exciting nights of bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, calf roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, cowgirl breakaway riding and more. Rodeo begins at 8 p.m. on Sept. 2nd and 3rd and at 7 p.m. on Sept. 4th. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for ages 5-12 and seniors 65+, kids 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the gate (gates open two hours prior to showtime each night).

It may be the dog days of summer, but soon it will be Dog Days at the Cumming Aquatic Center! The Center will again close out the outdoor leisure pool season with a special two-day event for four-legged friends on Saturday, Sept. 10th and Sunday, Sept. 11th. Cost for the event is $15 per dog, per session (humans are free). All dog-owners must provide proof of up-to-date Parvo-Distemper, Rabies, and Bordetella vaccinations (tags are not proof). Register online by clicking here. Questions? Email cac2@cityofcumming.net.

Join SPLASH Art Festivals and local artisans at the Cumming City Center for the first ever Cumming Art Fest on Saturday, Sept. 17th and Sunday, Sept. 18th! Cumming Art Fest will take place outside on the City Center's main street, Vision Drive, and will feature some 100 artists and craftspeople selling their wares. There's also a Kids' Zone with games and activities, as well as live music and other entertainers. Bring the whole family out for this fun weekend event!

The Cumming Farmers Market will begin a new chapter in its history this month. Sept. 28th will be the final day for the market to be held in the Cumming Fairgrounds Parking Lot #3. Normally, the end of September would mark the end of the market for the year; however, this year, the Cumming Farmers Market will continue. Beginning on Oct. 1st, the market will relocate to the Cumming City Center and will now be open year-round!

The market's new schedule at the City Center will be:

All vendors at the Cumming Farmers Market will continue to be local to Forsyth and nearby counties, and products will still have to be homegrown or handcrafted. Click here for a list of vendors and their products coming to the fall City Center Farmers Market. "Our vendors can't wait to bring their foods and other products to the Cumming City Center Farmers Market this fall," said Randy Gazaway, the market manager. "We are overjoyed to see our loyal customers, as well as lots of new faces, at the City Center!"

Shore Sweep returns on Saturday, Sept. 24th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers of all ages can register to help clean up Lake Lanier's waterways and shorelines during the Lake Lanier Association's 34th Annual Shore Sweep. The City of Cumming will again partner with the Lake Lanier Association and Keep Forsyth County Beautiful to assist with the clean-up efforts. Last year, some 1,200 volunteers were able to remove more than 85 tons of trash and debris from Lake Lanier's waters and shores. Use the event link above to register to help out this year.

The summer season is winding down and Mary Alice Park will soon close for the year. The last day the park will be open this year is Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5th. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (However, boat ramps at Mary Alice Park are open year-round, 24 hours per day.) For more information about Mary Alice Park, click here.

A campy, 1980's cult classic hits the School Street Playhouse stage this month. "Little Shop of Horrors" tells the zany tale of a down-on-his-luck plant shop employee whose life seems to change for the better when he discovers a unique, talking plant. However, that luck takes a very bad turn when the plant - dubbed Audrey II in honor of the employee's secret, co-worker crush - reveals a taste for much more than just water, sunlight and fertilizer! "Little Shop of Horrors" runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. from Sept. 9th through Oct. 2nd. Click here to purchase tickets.

The Cumming Arts Center “Hot Summer Nights” exhibit is in full swing and runs through Oct 1st. This show includes local artists (both Sawnee Association of the Arts members and non-members) with more than 100 pieces of art on display. Visit the Cumming Arts Center from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 1 - 4 p.m. Sundays. See all exhibitors and other award winners/artworks at sawneeart.org and visit the Arts Center in person at 111 Pilgrim Mill Road in downtown Cumming. Entry and parking are free. 

Cumming City Hall and most other non-essential City of Cumming departments and facilities will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5th. The Cumming Aquatic Center, however, will be open on Sept. 5th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Labor Day marks the last day of normal operations at the outdoor leisure pool for the season.

We wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

Youth Council - September 6 at 5 p.m.

City Council Work Session - September 6 at 6 p.m.

Planning & Zoning Board Meeting - September 20 at 5 p.m.

Regular City Council Meeting - September 20 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 Planning & Zoning Board Agendas and Minutes.