BY MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

There may not be a visible change in the seasons in Georgia, meaning that at times May can feel like August, October can feel like June and January can feel like May, but there is one change that can be intuited. It is the time of the year when outdoor festivals are deemed acceptable again and it is typically signalled by the return of the Brooks Day Festival.

That time is upon us again, as this Saturday the town of Brooks will hold its 18th annual Brooks Day Festival. People from all over the southside gather to run in the races, listen to the music, browse the arts and crafts tables, eat the vast array of festival food and generally be entertained. The day begins with race registration at 7:30 a.m. and ends with the end of the dance at 11 p.m.

The first race of the day is a one mile race beginning at 8 a.m. The fee to race in the one mile race is $3 and all winners receive awards. The top two finishers in the mile race will win trophies. The 10K race begins at 8:30 a.m. and costs $20 to register on the day of the race.

There will be separate age categories in both races and prizes awarded to the top two winners in the men's and women's divisions. The awards and prize drawings will be held at 10 a.m. For more information on the race, call 770-719-7799 or 770-719-8101.

The entertainment starts at 10:30 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. The entertainment includes the Ramblin' Rose Band, the Southside Country Strutters, the Double Barrell Band, Debbie and Susanna Walker, Adam Grant and the Country Jamboree Cloggers.

While the entertainment is on stage, festival goers are encouraged to check out the Antique Tractor Display, brought to the festival by the West Georgia 2-Cylinder Club. There will also be clowns, tree climbing, activities for the children and of course, barbecue and funnel cakes.

A dance will then be held from 7-11 p.m. and will feature the musical stylings of Allen Goodman with Southpaw. Goodman is 17 years old and has played the dance for the last four years. He plays piano in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino and is heavily influenced by the rock n' roll sounds of that era. Southpaw is made up of members Lance Bowen, Ray McCafferty, Brent Bledsoe and Jeff Cole.

Admission to the dance is $3 and is open to people ages 12 and up. It is suggested that people bring tables, table clothes and candles to the dance to create a sort of Chastain Park in the country.

Any way you look at it the 18th Annual Brooks Day Festival has something to appeal to everyone. Head on out to Brooks for a fun-filled day. 

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