There may

not be a visible change in the seasons in Georgia,

meaning that at times May can feel like August, October

can feel like June and January can feel like May, but

there is one change that can be intuited. It is the time

of the year when outdoor festivals are deemed acceptable

again and it is typically signalled by the return of the

Brooks Day Festival.

That time

is upon us again, as this Saturday the town of Brooks

will hold its 18th annual Brooks Day Festival. People

from all over the southside gather to run in the races,

listen to the music, browse the arts and crafts tables,

eat the vast array of festival food and generally be

entertained. The day begins with race registration at

7:30 a.m. and ends with the end of the dance at 11 p.m.

The first

race of the day is a one mile race beginning at 8 a.m.

The fee to race in the one mile race is $3 and all

winners receive awards. The top two finishers in the mile

race will win trophies. The 10K race begins at 8:30 a.m.

and costs $20 to register on the day of the race.

There will

be separate age categories in both races and prizes

awarded to the top two winners in the men's and women's

divisions. The awards and prize drawings will be held at

10 a.m. For more information on the race, call

770-719-7799 or 770-719-8101.

The

entertainment starts at 10:30 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.

The entertainment includes the Ramblin' Rose Band, the

Southside Country Strutters, the Double Barrell Band,

Debbie and Susanna Walker, Adam Grant and the Country

Jamboree Cloggers.

While the

entertainment is on stage, festival goers are encouraged

to check out the Antique Tractor Display, brought to the

festival by the West Georgia 2-Cylinder Club. There will

also be clowns, tree climbing, activities for the

children and of course, barbecue and funnel cakes.

A dance

will then be held from 7-11 p.m. and will feature the

musical stylings of Allen Goodman with Southpaw. Goodman

is 17 years old and has played the dance for the last

four years. He plays piano in the style of Jerry Lee

Lewis and Fats Domino and is heavily influenced by the

rock n' roll sounds of that era. Southpaw is made up of

members Lance Bowen, Ray McCafferty, Brent Bledsoe and

Jeff Cole.

Admission

to the dance is $3 and is open to people ages 12 and up.

It is suggested that people bring tables, table clothes

and candles to the dance to create a sort of Chastain

Park in the country.

Any way you

look at it the 18th Annual Brooks Day Festival has

something to appeal to everyone. Head on out to Brooks

for a fun-filled day.

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