They came from surrounding communities and the heart of Senoia to celebrate the memories of those who sacrificed their lives for their country.

On a gorgeous spring Monday, nearly 5,000 people packed the streets of Senoia to celebrate the city’s second Memorial Day celebration. The city’s downtown became a celebration of small-town life as churches and civic organizations sold everything from barbecue to fresh-squeezed lemonade.

“The crowds were above expectation and everything went extremely well,” said city administrator Richard Ferry.

Last year, the city had to treat a few folks who suffered from heat-related ailments. But this year, the weather was perfect and thousands streamed into town to enjoy the festivities.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was country music legend Doug Stone performing a few songs in the town’s newly-created square. Stone was raised in Coweta County and got a hometown welcome from his fans.

This year’s parade had 68 entries and is causing city officials to think about expanding the route for future events.

“We had over 40 entries for the Christmas parade and now we’re in the high 60s. We may consider also running parades down Pylant Street so the viewers can have more space to spread out,” Ferry added.

In just its second year, Senoia’s celebration has proved to be a regional draw, with many parade entries and visitors from nearby Fayette County. Ferry expects the event to keep growing since many visitors love the atmosphere of downtown Senoia.