Glennville Sweet Onion Festival Kicks Off This Saturday

by Pam Waters
   Tattnall County is known as the largest grower of Vidalia sweet onions, and Glennville is pleased to be celebrating the harvesting of the crop with its 32nd annual Glennville Sweet Onion Festival this Saturday, May 10.
   The day starts early, with a one-mile fun run and walk at 8 a.m. followed by a 5K (3.1) mile run at 8:30 a.m. The run is headquartered at First Citizens Bank in Glennville on Hwy. 301 South. Tabitha Smith and Charlie Crisp are chairing this event. If you haven’t registered, you can still do so the morning of the race, with registration still available from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
   The parade begins at 10 a.m. and will take its usual route from the Glennville Middle School area to the corner of Banks Street and Hwy. 301 South.
   Graciously serving as Parade Marshal this year is Department of Defense Inspector General Claude M. "Mickey" Kicklighter, a native son of Glennville, who has served his country in the military as well as in a civilian capacity since his military retirement in 1991. He will be accompanied by his nine-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth Kicklighter. General Kicklighter’s wife, Betty, is unable to attend due to a broken ankle.
   Reigning over the festival will be Elizabeth Love, 2008 Miss Georgia Sweet Onion. She will appear on the City of Glennville float and will be seated on the program platform along with several other queens. She is appearing in several commercials on WTOC-TV Channel 11 this week. Coverage of the parade will also be provided by WTOC.
   Festival gates, however, open at 9 a.m., prior to the parade. The festival is held at the Gerald Dasher Memorial State Farmers‘ Market on Hwy. 301 South. Plenty of delicious food choices will tempt your palate, beginning with those tasty sweet onion rings fried to perfection, with all onions donated by Ray Farms. The menu includes hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, Cajun dishes, funnel cakes, pork rinds, homemade ice cream, fried grouper, chicken fingers, sno cones, sausage, cotton candy, and smoothies in addition to soft drinks, lemonade, tea, and water.
   The program begins at 12 noon, with General Kicklighter delivering the keynote address.   Kicklighter will be introduced by Brent Walker, Glennville Chamber of Commerce President and longtime friend. The Largest Onion Contest winners and scholarship recipients will also be introduced, and the parade and onion run winners will be announced.
   From 11:45 a.m. until 12 noon, the Tattnall County High School Sound of P.R.I.D.E. will give a mini concert preceding the program.
   The shade of the pecan trees, sturdy wooden bleachers, and the proximity of the food booths will entice festival visitors to enjoy the afternoon of entertainment. Those arriving at the festival early can hear Lamar Cook and Scott Rogers, popular vocalists from the Tattnall Productions shows held each January. The two will begin singing at 11 a.m., followed by soloists Ryan Dasher and Rod Yoder, who have been highly applauded as Tattnall Productions performers. After the program, entertainment will resume at 1 p.m.
   Back again by popular demand is the exciting World Championship Turtle Races at the festival, which has been a big hit the past several years. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with the race at 1 p.m.
   Children have been provided with a wide array of activities. These include face painting, rock climbing, reverse bungee jumping, pony rides, a pick-up duck game, a giant slide, and a carousel bounce house.
   Festival admission is $5 each for adults and $3 for children. Active duty military with I. D. and their families will not be charged any admission fee to the festival.
   For additional information, call Wayne Dasher at 654-3332, or any of the following chairpersons: Pam Waters (654-2515/4053) - food booths and children’s activities; Tammy Driggers-Cowart (654-4700) - arts and crafts, commercial displays; Tabitha Smith (237-2175), or tabsmith@tattnall.k12.ga.us or Charlie Crisp (654-3931) - onion run; Bubba Longgrear (557-4374) - parade; and Marvelle Thompson (654-3178) - entertainment.

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