The town of

Tyrone began celebrating Founders Day 25 years ago.

The governor

of Georgia established the Governor's Project Competition Program in an

effort to bring communities together. The committee in Tyrone decided

to celebrate the founders of their town and they have been celebrating

every year since.

The first Founders

Day celebration featured a street dance, a teen of the year contest, a

citizen of the year contest, arts and crafts, and the creation of a town

flag. More than 100 people attended the first celebration, but now 10,000

people attend the celebration annually.

This year's

festival began last Saturday with the first golf tournament and the carnival

began last night. Tonight there will be a look-a-like contest under the

entertainment tent at Shamrock Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tomorrow the

contest will be "Decades" and Friday will feature a karaoke

contest.

The festival

really gets underway Saturday morning with a one-mile walk and 5K race.

The walk begins at 7:45 a.m. and the race begins at 8 a.m. The 5K race

is on a USATF certified course that begins and ends at the Tyrone Elementary

School. Awards are presented to the first three males and females in the

5K race and the top two males and females in each age group. The overall

male and female walker will also receive awards. The entry fees are as

follows, $15 for 5K race, which includes a t-shirt to all finishers, $10

walkers with a t-shirt, and $5 for walkers for just a ribbon.

Following the

race, visitors are encouraged to peruse the booths of exhibitors, crafters,

food vendors and local merchants. Entries into the art show will be on

display on the fence at the tennis court and winners will be announced

at 3:30 p.m. The parade, which lines up on North Senoia Road under the

Ga. Highway 74 bridge, begins at 2 p.m. There is no entry fee into the

parade and awards will be presented to the top three floats. For entry

information, visit www.tyrone.org or call 770-487-4694.

Saturday evening

will feature a Hawaiian themed adult dance from 7-11 p.m. and there will

be a fireworks extravaganza over Lake Shamrock at 9:30 p.m. Sunday will

feature all of the same rides, games and booths but will also include

the Taste of Tyrone Contest, the ice cream eating contest, which begins

at 1 p.m. and is open to all ages for free, and the first World of Wheels

entertainment.

Founders Day

is, and always has been, about a community coming together to celebrate

and have fun. That community continues to grow each year with more and

more visitors sharing in the celebration. For information phone 770-487-4694.

Back

to the Top of the Page