With great lineups from The Villages and The Fred, a wide range of community theatre productions, and school plays and concerts abounding, 2005 kept area residents busy.

Way back in January, the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City held their 13th annual Pancake Saturday. Friends and family gathered to share a meal, enjoyed each others company and had a great time.

The Newnan Community Theatre Company kicked off another bustling year with “Toad of Toad Hall,” which brought the adventure of Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s tale of “The Wind in the Willows,” adapted by A.A. Milne, to life in the Black Box Theatre.

The Newnan Community Theatre Company didn’t take a break after their January show. February brought a whole new production with Noel Coward’s classic comedy, “Blithe Spirit.”

The Fayette County Public Library helped contribute to the area’s diversity by organizing an evening of music, poetry and art highlighting different cultures known as the Blended Heritage Celebration. The multi-cultural event was a special night for experiencing the differences that make us unique as people.

March brought high school events including Fayette County High School Band Boosters’ annual benefit event, the Miss Pride of Fayette County Pageant. This was the 37th year that the pageant has been held to raise money for the FCHS Band which, in turn, gave young women from the age of 3 to seniors in high school a chance to reign supreme in 2005.

Mid-March saw Sandy Creek High School’s drama department present their first musical production in the new Patriot Hall Auditorium, “Pippin.” The musical had audiences traveling back to the 9th century when Charlemagne ruled the Holy Roman Empire and his son Pepin (Pippin) was trying to find his niche.

April jazzed up Peachree City’s Falcon Field with the 3rd Annual Dixie Wing World War II Swing Dinner Dance. The dance was held at the Historical Airpower Facility at Falcon Field and featured a live 1940's-style band, silent auction and dance competition with $800 in cash prizes for amateurs and professionals. Music was provided by The Peachtree Jazz Edition.

April also rang in the sounds of Fayette County High School Select Chorus’ Variety Show “A Walk in the Park.” The select chorus took the audience on a trip through a variety of music ranging from Broadway show tunes to pop hits to the classics.

The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater’s eleventh season welcomed the Motown hit-makers, The Four Tops, in late April. Originally signed to Chess Records in 1956, The Four Tops have been together for more than 40 years.

The Southside Theatre Guild in Fairburn presented “Beside Yourself” in late April on into May. Nick Hall’s raucous comedy about twins was directed by Keith Williams.

Relay For Life was back with over 260 Fayette County cancer survivors walking the first lap at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. Cancer survivors walked the initial lap, to symbolize the courage that survivors display and sustain in their lives. The touching and powerful event was held May 6.

May ushered in the 37th annual Old Courthouse Art Show and Taste of Fayette. The event, held on the Old Fayette County Courthouse Square in Fayetteville. Sponsored by the Fayette County Art Association, this two day event brought the talents of 75 artists from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Attendees were able to taste from a variety of restaurants and business’s including Mexican, Italian, Caribbean, deli sandwiches and subs, pizza, ice cream and deserts.

June proved to be all about music! The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater got funky when Kool & The Gang show up June 3 and 4. Closing out series 1 June 17 and 18, “The Fred” welcomed back the popular Florida rockers .38 Special.

Not to be outdone, Fayetteville’s Village’s Amphitheater welcomed The Letterman. The Village’s didn’t stop there, however, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlins entertained crowds June 18, and the Swingin Medallions brought their fun mix of beach music, pop, frat rock, and R&B to a free concert sponsored by the Main Street Tourism Association on July 9.

Fourth of July meant plenty of fun activities in the area. Following the annual Peachtree City Independence Day Parade, the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City and the Methodist Men’s Fellowship of Peachtree City United Methodist Church combined forces for their second annual Community Chicken-Que. In Fayetteville, The Sons, Daughters and Children of the American Revolution gathered on the south side steps of the Fayette County Courthouse for “Let Freedom Ring,” part of the National Bell Ringing Ceremony. Newnan had their Rotary Celebration and Fourth of July Parade. Fireworks followed at Newnan High School.

On July 8, the Second Annual Fayette Idol Contest was brought back to The Village’s after the first year’s overwhelming success. The local talent contest returned with renewed enthusiasm. Boasting a special guest appearance by “American Idol” Season one finalist R.J. Helton, this year’s show was a hit with young and old alike.

In mid-July, Fayette-Coweta Family Theatre, Inc. and The Village’s Amphitheater presented the family musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The Village’s continued their concert series with a rocking good time when Johnny Rivers brought his own brand of fun on July 23.

The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater presented Loverboy and John Waite July 29 and 30. Mike Reno and his fellow Canadians were joined by British pop/rocker Waite for a double dose of musical excitement.

July also saw The Southside Theatre Guild get in the act with the musical production “Damn Yankees,” and the Newnan Community Theatre wrapped up July and began August with the cult-classic “Sordid Lives.”

Offshoot Productions entertained audiences every weekend from mid-August to early September with William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The production, which was presented at The Roger Spencer Community Center in Tyrone, boasted original music by young composer, Paige Steadman, to accompany the treasured classic.

In August, “The Fred” hosted “Summer Jam 2005,” featuring six local bands, while the Village’s brought American icon Kenny Rogers to Fayetteville.

September marked the beginning of fall, and anyone familiar with the area knows that means festivals. The 35th annual Powers’ Crossroads Country Fair and Art Festival brought over 200 artists and craftsmen from all over the country to Coweta County Labor Day weekend.

Sunday, September 11 was a day of remembrance in both Peachtree City and Fayetteville as each city held a ceremony in honor of the victims of the terrorist homicide bombings. Fayetteville’s God and Country Night and Peachtree City’s Patriot Day both included a 9/11 tribute along with a full agenda of patriotic music and song.

Tyrone’s 28th Annual Founders Day festivities held a weeks worth of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Peachtree City’s Parks and Recreation Department held the 28th annual Shakerag Arts and Crafts Festival September 17 and 18 at Shakerag Knoll in Peachtree City. That same weekend welcomed Old Town Sharpsburg's 21st annual Fall Festival as well as the 9th annual Inman Farm Heritage Days festival at the Minter farm in Inman, in the center of Fayette County.

October brought changing colors in the trees and area high schools’ one act plays. The Fayette County High School Fine Arts Department in association with Music Theatre International presented the full length musical, "HONK!," a musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, "The Ugly Duckling," while the Starr’s Mill High School drama department performed the uproarious show, “Dearly Departed.” Whitewater High School Theatre’s fall play was the historical dramedy, “Full Circle” by Charles Mee. McIntosh High School Advanced Drama presented the one-act play “The Swimmer” by F. Xavier Hogan. For anyone who enjoys local theater, area high schools were a sure bet for fall entertainment.

November was the perfect time of year for the Line Creek Civitan Club’s 2005 Great Chili Challenge. Held at Shakerag Knoll in Peachtree City, the Chili Challenge raised money for programs and organizations supported by Civitans in Peachtree City and surrounding communities.

November also saw Landmark Christian School along with the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra perform one of the biggest cultural arts events to hit the metro Atlanta area: the “King David Oratorio.” Audiences were blown away at the talent brought to the stage at the Coweta County Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.

All in all, 2005 was a great year for Coweta, Fayette and South Fulton. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to seeing what exciting and fun-filled events 2006 will bring our way!

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