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Week of Founders Day events end Sat.

Saturday will mark the final day of the 28th Annual Tyrone Founders Day festivities. The week of activities will round up with an all day extravaganza of food, fun, and entertainment for the whole family. This year’s theme, “Tyrone, The Simple Life,” is meant to remind community members of the simple joys of living in a small, close knit community.

Tyrone Founders Day started in 1977 with the Governor’s Project Competition Program. The competition consisted of similar sized towns all over Georgia contending to see which could get the most citizens involved; but in what?  That was the $10,000 question. What great event could the “Governor’s Project Competition Betterment Committee” come up with that could get the fine people of Tyrone up, out and together? After several flyers and many meetings, the committee decided on a celebration; it would be called Tyrone Founders Day.

The first celebration included a street dance, teen contest, arts and crafts, citizens of the year and creating a town flag. The estimated attendance of the first Founders Day was approximately 100 people. Since then Founders Day has grown exponentially, and in 1998 the attendance was estimated to be 10,000 people for the two day event.

This year’s festivities include a carnival, an ice cream eating contest, arts and crafts vendors, a car show, and music that the whole family can enjoy.

The Grand Marshal for Founders Day 2005 is Senator Ronnie Chance who resides in Tyrone with his wife, Cressida, and daughter, Ellia. Senator Chance, a Republican, was first elected to the Georgia State Senate from Georgia’s 16th District in 2004. He represents Lamar, Pike, and parts of Fayette, Monroe, and Spalding counties.

Senator Chance grew up in south Fayette County where he attended Brooks Elementary School and graduated from Fayette County High School. He founded Chance Public Relations in 1997 and is a member of the First Baptist Church in Peachtree City.

Saturday will kick off with a 5K Road Race and 1 mile Fun Run sponsored by Tyrone Elementary School. It is the first race in a grand prix series of 10 races sponsored by the Peachtree City Rotary Club. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the race concluding at approximately 9:30 a.m.

For those who prefer cycling to running, three free rides, a four, 16- and 40-mile bike ride, will be sponsored by Fayette Biking for Life Club. The four-mile ride is just around Tyrone and is perfect for children and beginners. The 16-mile ride covers the beautiful Canongate area, and the 40-mile Hooch Ride travels to the Chattahoochee River and concludes back in Tyrone.

From 8 a.m. to noon, The Allen Goodman Band will be providing entertainment at the grand opening for Wings & Things in Tyrone. Allen Goodman has performed professionally since he was 13 years old. He has opened for the Doobie Brothers and performs classic rock & roll, the blues, and old country standards all over the atlanta area.

Embrey Customotive is sponsoring the Car Show again this year at the Publix parking lot in Tyrone from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event sure to bring out the crowds is the annual parade through downtown Tyrone which starts at 2 p.m. The parade route will begin at Arrowood Rd. and will proceed down Senoia Road where it will disband on Swanson Road. Senoia Road will be closed for through traffic from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. so make plans early to adjust your routes. The kids will love the parade with bands, floats, fancy cars, stilt walkers, and lots of candy.

Brownie Girl Scout Troop 176 will have a float and will be collecting new and gently used teddy bears or other stuffed toys to donate to the Tyrone police stations and fire houses for the children in the community involved in car accidents, fires or other emergencies. 

The Tyrone library book sale will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue on until 6 p.m. The carnival kicks off the last day at noon, arts and crafts and food vendors will open at 9 a.m., and both will wrap up at 11 p.m.

A wonderful lineup of talented entertainers will begin performances under the shade of the “Big Tent” at Handly Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday with many local groups performing. Finishing out the evening of music is Ricky Lee Ponder at 5 p.m. and De’ Ja Vu at 8 p.m.

Ricky Lee Ponder is one of the most talented new artists to hit the country music scene. He has spent most of his adult life as a master banjo picker and Bluegrass artist. His debut album “Simple Man” has been completed and he is sure to get the crowds on their feet.

De’ Ja Vu is the new sound of your favorite classic Rock and Roll. A professional 4-piece musical group,  De’ Ja Vu specializes in the hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s through today. Whether at clubs, weddings, conventions, private parties, or corporate functions, De’ Ja Vu deliver good times and great sounds.

All entertainment is open to the public and admission is free. Park at Tyrone Elementary School, Publix Parking Lot or Handley Park and ride the free shuttle around to all the events. Real Life Center will be accepting non-perishable food donations so bring canned foods to help out those in your community.

The week of fun will be capped off with a dazzling fireworks display at 9 p.m. at Handley Park. Bring a blanket and your family and enjoy the pleasures of living “the simple life.”

For more information call Kay Green at 770-487-4694 or simply log on to www.tyrone.org for all the details.