Pine Tree Festival on the horizon

It is almost time for the Pine Tree Festival! This year the festival will be a little different, since for the first time it is being planned and sponsored by the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Festival Foundation, with the assistance of civic clubs and other groups throughout the Swainsboro community.

The dates of the Festival this year will be from April 26 to May 10, giving a full two weeks of activities. And a full two weeks it will be!

The festival opens with a bang on Saturday, April 26, with the Pine Tree Breeze Bicycle Race, the Pine Tree Golf Tournament, the Pine Tree Beauty Pageant, and the Pine Tree Festival Garden Show all scheduled for the opening day. The Golf Tournament will conclude on Sunday, April 27.

On Friday and Saturday, May 3 & 4, the Pine Tree Festival 150 race will be held at Swainsboro Raceway. On Saturday, May 4, Emanuel County Farm and Home Museum will host an open house. A barbeque dinner will be served with "Pine Bark Stew." Tickets are $7.00 and are available at the Chamber of Commerce or by contacting any Emanuel County Historic Preservation Society member.

On Wednesday, May 7, the State FFA Forestry Field Day will be held at the Swainsboro Recreational Complex on McLeod Bridge Road. While this event will not be a public event, it will bring 200 - 250 FFA students, advisers, teachers, and parents from across the state into Swainsboro for a variety of competitions dealing with forestry and forest management. A 10:00 a.m. forestry "hot topics" will be presented. The public is invited to attend.

On Thursday, May 7, another big day is scheduled at the Swainsboro Recreation Complex. There will be the Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Show, something unique to the Festival. The show hails from Wisconsin and has been seen on ESPN and on ABC's Wide World of Sports. On this day, there will be performances for students in the Emanuel County School System. There will also be a Civil War Camp Reenactment and a Timber Expo Show, where manufacturers of heavy equipment used by the forestry industry will have their equipment on display. There will be a number of educational exhibits including the Swainsboro Fire Department, Magnolia Springs State Park, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Association, Shriners Hopitals Traveling Display and much more. The Georgia Forestry Commission Helicopter will also conduct a water drop demonstration.

That evening, the Georgia Regional Timber Landowners Association will have a dinner. While this event will not be a public event, it will bring about 200 people to Swainsboro. Tickets are available at the Chamber.

The activities schedule for Thursday will continue into Friday at the Swainsboro Recreation Department Complex. Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Show is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. performance. In addition to the other activities carried over on Friday, there an arts and crafts show. These events are scheduled to open at 8:00 a.m. "Sam's Drive In" will perform in concert at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, the last day of the Festival will be another day full of interesting events. Beginning at 8:00 a.m., the Knotty Pine Run will take place in Downtown Swainsboro. There will be a Grill Off in downtown Swainsboro also beginning at 8:00. At 10:00, special ceremonies will be held to name this year's Grand Marshall. The annual Pine Tree Festival parade under the direction of the Swainsboro Shrine Club will step off at 11:00 in downtown Swainsboro. At noon, the Battle of the Bands will take place; and at 2:00, there will be a Lawn Mower race. Lots of activity will be taking place in town on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Recreational Complex will open at 10:00 a.m. with three Fred Scheer's Lumberjack shows slated, at 2:00, 3:00, and 5:00 p.m. An antique car display will be on hand along with forestry equipment displays, arts and crafts, educational displays by Swainsboro Fire Department, Georgia Forestry Commission and GSU Raptor Center. Activities at the Recreational Complex will continue until 6:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, in downtown Swainsboro, the second Saturday Art Stroll will take place, beginning at 5:00. Later that evening, at 8:00, you will have an opportunity to sample offerings of local restaurants, when Taste of Emanuel takes place beginning at 8:00, also in downtown Swainsboro.

All in all, it looks like it is going to be an exciting two weeks for Swainsboro and Emanuel County.

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