Temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 80s this weekend, a perfect setting to stroll through numerous local fall festivals, peruse the booths of various vendors and sample some outstanding festival treats.

Inman Farm Heritage Days and Tyrone Founders Day both get started on Friday, while Shakerag in Peachtree City and Old Town Sharpsburg will take place Saturday and Sunday.

Inman Farm Heritage Days truly is a community event. For three days in the fall, visitors get to remember a simpler time and pay tribute to the people in our little farming community who for generations worked the fields and maintained our way of life. The festival features restored tractors and engines, an operating cotton gin, grist mill, sawmill, grain threshing, weaving, syrup, making and many other attractions including blue grass music. The festival, on the grounds of Minter Farm, is produced entirely by volunteers. The dates are Sept. 18, 19, and 20.

This year, Don Harp, former pastor at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, will speak at the festival’s Sunday morning worship service.

There is no admission fee for Inman Farm Heritage Days, but you can help offset the cost by purchasing the programs, t-shirts and caps that we’ll have for sale.
Gates open at 9 a.m. on Friday Sept. 18 and run until about 6 p.m. We’ll have the same hours on Saturday, but activities usually wind up around 4 p.m. on Sunday.
If you need more information, call 770-461-2840 or visit www.inmanfarm.com

Tyrone Founders Day started in 1977, as a result of the Governor’s Project Competition Program. The competition challenged similar sized towns, all over Georgia, to motivate their citizens to become involved in an activity that would bring the town together. The Tyrone Committee met the challenge with a festival that would be called Tyrone Founders Day.

The first celebration included a street dance, teen contest, arts and crafts displays, citizen of the year award, and a competition to design the Tyrone Town Flag. The estimated attendance of the first Founders Day was approximately 100 people. By 2005, attendance was estimated at 15,000 people.

Tyrone is a residential community of approximately 6,300, located in Fayette County, about 25 miles south of Atlanta, Georgia. The land in the area originally belonged to the Creek Indians and was settled by Irish farmers in the late 1800’s. Some of the homes built by those first settlers are still occupied by their descendants. The people who built the railroad here in 1907 reportedly named Tyrone. It was incorporated on August 18, 1911. The Scotch and Irish immigrants thought the topography reminded them of the area around County Tyrone in Ireland.

This year Tyrone is celebrating their 33rd Founders Day. This year’s theme is “Tyrone, Saluting Our Veterans! 33 Years of Fun!” The festival will take place at Handley Park. This includes the carnival, vendors, entertainment and fireworks. The car show will be at Shamrock Park. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday and proceed along Senoia Road from Arrowood Drive to Handley Road, where it will disband.

The Shakerag Arts and Crafts Festival will return to Shakerag Knoll near the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater Sept. 19-20. Citizens are invited to come find jewelry, scarves, mosaic work, pottery, candles, soaps, wood work, plants, and much, much more. There will be over 100 vendors, plenty of food and a designated children’s area. Admission and parking is free. The event runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and from 12-5 on Sunday.

The Old Town Sharpsburg Fall Festival will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20. The festival offers great fun for the family. Organizers state there are two rules for the festival: 1) Eat a lot, 2) Buy a lot. There will be something for everyone. Vendor spots are still available. Call 678-740-5496, www.sharpsburgmerchantsassociation.org

In addition to the previously mentioned festival, Saint Christopher’s Greek Fest will take place Saturday, Sept. 19 at Falcon Field in Peachtree City with appetizers at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a Greek band and dancing. Ticket information can be found at http://www.saintchristopherhoc.org/index.php?pr=Greek_Fest . All proceeds will benefit the St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church Building Fund. For further information, call Tammy at 770-487-1004 or 404-625-4663.

Fayette Shrine Club is hosting its first Chili Cook-off on Saturday, Sept. 19 to support Shriner Children’s Hospitals. The cook-off will be held on the grounds of Fayette Shrine Club located at 205 Ellis Road in Fayetteville. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and people’s choice for chili and a people’s choice award for salsa. For a small donation, the public will be invited to taste chilis and salsas.

There is something for everybody at one of the many events offered this weekend. Get out there and have some fun.

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