There was plenty

to do in Palmetto last weekend even if you were short on cash.

The town's

150th Anniversary Celebration stretched out over four fun-filled days

and included a barbecue, a car show, a bake sale and parade, to name just

a few of the events.

Last Thursday

night, 21 delicious-looking cakes were brought to the Palmetto Neighborhood

Senior Center and quickly disappeared at the cakewalk, which only cost

$1. A silent auction was also held at the center that evening with items

donated by local area businesses. Leaf blowers, a saber saw, a chess set,

a bird house and other decorative and gift items vied for people's attention.

To keep everyone

well fed in the traditional fashion of more than a century ago, a meatless

dinner was served for a mere $5. It included black-eyed peas, pinto beans,

sliced tomatoes, creamed corn, whipped potatoes, sliced onions, regular

and cracklin' cornbread and a selection of cakes and pies.

If you were

not too full, the Cedar Grove Group provided music to dance to at a hoedown

on the ground's patio. Many of the residents ladies including the Center's

director, Patty O'Bryen dressed in colorful, old-fashioned bonnets and

skirts.The men wore bib overalls and the occasional straw hat.

On Friday,

a barbecue in Palmetto City Park served chicken, pork and sandwiches and

those who volunteered their time and effort for the city's celebration

received a plaque in recognition. There was more music, line dancing and

a Kitchen band to entertain the crowds.

Saturday saw

a huge car show at the Georgia Baptist Children's home with booths of

all sorts including a Chick-fil-A and a Mellow Mushroom booth.

A parade down

Church Street led to the park where an art show and a quilt show awaited

onlookers. There were old-fashioned games such as sack races, wheel barrow

races, a limbo contest, a biscuit eating contest and a Jell-O eating contest

for the kids and the kids at heart.

Later in the

evening a "womanless wedding" was held at the Palmetto Elementary

Gym much to everyone's amusement.

Sunday saw

the dedication of a Palmetto tree planted at the Train Depot. A tour of

homes and a trolley tour of Palmetto steered the final days events in

a historical direction. Several displays of pictures and artifacts throughout

the city gave people a chance to see what their town was like in its early

days.

The closing

ceremonies were held at the Children's Home. A band concert and followed