The city of Senoia is looking for a few good volunteers. Senoia stages the area’s largest Memorial day celebration, and during Tuesday’s meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, chairman Suzanne Helfman asked the authority members to see if they knew of anybody who would like to volunteer for the event. The city is also looking for some donated golf carts for the day to help shuttle the veterans to and from the parade area.

This year’s festivities will be extra-special for music lovers. In addition to the moving and patriotic U.S. Army Ground Forces Marching Band, three very special young ladies will grace the stage with their singing.

Recording artist and songwriter Marianne Allison launched her career to critical praise and a number of awards, including a grand-prize win in the 2007 International John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Her first CD "From the Water" was released in January 2007, and she performs weekly at the elegant IP Casino/Resort/Spa and the Hard Rock Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi. Marianne's music is described as "a blend of many styles such as acoustic, country/crossover and folk music that brings all walks of life together in unity."

13-year-old Fayette County resident A'Lise Holliday is a hip-hop and R&B singing sensation and songwriter. Her singing brings comparisons to Beyoncé or Cristina Aguilera. A'Lise performs regularly at schools, churches, sporting events, and restaurants. This serious and hard-working student is on the fast track to be an Atlanta recording star despite her young age. Local resident Tammie Adams will also be singing at the fireworks celebration Memorial Day evening.

“The Car Guys," Scott Sargeant and Charlie Filkins, of High Octane Radio 92.5 The Bear, will emcee and provide additional music during the festival, which runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The parade kicks off at 2 p.m. with 55 parade entries and at least 100 Shriner cars to honor the veterans.

During the parade there will be a stirring, dramatic flyover by the Peachtree City-Falcon Field Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron. The aircraft will be one of the Civil Air Patrol single engine propeller fleet aircraft. The inspiring keynote speaker will be World War II veteran Helen Denton.

Along with delicious food for sale, antique and craft vendors, children's amusements, vintage cars, Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactors and a living history exhibit will round out the day's activities. A fireworks display will end the celebration at the Senoia ball fields after dark.

The Memorial Day Festival is sponsored by the city of Senoia and the Downtown Development Authority. For more information, go to Senoia.com or contact Gail Downs at 770-599-9155 or Suzanne Helfman at 770-599-8182.

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