Weekend festivals in Hogansville, LaGrange big hit
Published 12:00 am Monday, October 19, 2015
Good weather, big crowds perfect combo
Justin Scully, a representative of JC Bull Dog Hard Cider, pours a sample of the company’s gluten-free beer into a patron’s glass at the LaGrange Craft Beer Festival on Saturday. Both he, and Justin Aird, another representative of the brewery, said their booth stayed busy at the inaugural festival.
Ramona Burnside, owner of Crafts By Ramona, stands under some of her handmade creations, mainly decorative wreaths and wall hangings, inside her tent at the Hummingbird Festival in Hogansville. Burnside said this is the fifth year she has been to the event, and it was her most profitable year yet.
Crowds of people fill the sidewalk Saturday in front of the dozens of tents lined up along Main Street for the 18th annual Hummingbird Festival. Around 200 vendors were expected to be at the event showcasing their creations and designs over the weekend.
A vendor pours a beverage into a glass during the LaGrange Craft Beer Festival on Saturday. Organizers said a souvenir sampling glass, unlimited tasting, live music, games of cornhole and food offerings was included with the cost of general admission into the event.
Atlanta-based band Secondhand Swagger performs Saturday at the LaGrange Craft Beer Festival. The group was one of three live music acts to play for guests at the event from a variety of performers.
Windchimes made from bottles at Reeba’s Bottles was a popular stop for shoppers among the hundreds of tents at the Hummingbird Festival. Folks also seemed to enjoy the handcrafted jewelry, unique pottery, one-of-a-kind paintings, handmade wooden signs and brightly knitted purses and scarves all being sold along Hogansville’s downtown corridor over the weekend.
Some folks enjoy the evening sipping their new favorite brew and playing a spirited game of cornhole Saturday at the inaugural LaGrange Craft Beer Festival.
A steady stream of cars and people made their way through Main Street in downtown Hogansville this weekend for the 18th annual Hummingbird Festival.
A child rides a merry-go-round, one of the activities for children along with amenities like a bounce slide and giant swing at the Hummingbird Festival in Hogansville this weekend.
A vendor pours a drink for a patron at the inaugural LaGrange Craft Beer Festival on Saturday. The event was hosted by the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority and set to include more than 100 craft beers from around the world.
A patron gets a sampling of a brew Saturday at the LaGrange Craft Beer Festival. Participants were allowed unlimited sampling of all the beers at the festival. Area restaurants also were on hand serving food and hors d’oeuvres to guests.
A wreath created by Ramona Burnside, owner of Crafts by Ramona, boasts University of Alabama theme. The Hummingbird Festival in Hogansville gave local artists and craftsmen, like Burnside, a chance to show off their talents and goods, make some money and reach new clientele. Burnside said she specializes in creating wreaths like this one for any occasion, plus wall hangings, table decor, mailbox decorations and more.
A child gets her face painted Saturday at the 18th annual Hummingbird Festival in downtown Hogansville. There were plenty of activities for children at the weekend festival, including games, rides, arts and crafts, and face painting.
HOGANSVILLE — The crisp, fall temperatures and bright blue, sunny skies held out through the weekend for a variety events throughout Troup County, especially for the popular 18th annual Hummingbird Festival.
Thousands of visitors and more than 200 vendors from around the southeast region filled East Main Street and beyond for two straight days to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the event.
There was a little something for everyone — rides, games and face painting for the children, plus food, live music and shopping for adults.
“This is a very popular festival,” said Ramona Burnside, owner of Crafts By Ramona. “There’s always a lot of traffic. We’ve always done very well here.”
Burnside’s tent was brightly decorated and inviting with her handmade wreaths celebrating the upcoming holidays and fan favorite football teams, plus wall hangings, table decor, candle holders and more.
She said this was her fifth year at the Hummingbird festival, and her best one yet.
“Sales have increased and more people have come through,” Burnside explained. “We were really busy on Saturday … we call it the girlfriends-out-shopping day. Sunday is the family-after-church-shopping day.”
Folks mingled throughout rows of tents offering everything from handcrafted jewelry, unique pottery and one-of-a-kind paintings to windchimes made out of bottles, handmade wooden signs and brightly knitted purses and scarves.
Two new exhibits debuted in this year’s festivities: folks received an upclose look at a special hummingbird showcase sponsored by the East Tennessee Avian Research’s Seymour Banding Station, plus the Troup County Master Gardeners Association sold hummingbird-friendly plants.
Meanwhile in LaGrange, people packed into parts of Main Street on Saturday afternoon and evening for the inaugural Craft Beer Festival hosted by the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority.
According to organizers, the event included more than 100 craft beers from around the world.
Justin Scully and Jason Aird, both representatives of the JC Bull Dog Hard Cider from Helen, said their booth stayed busy most of the afternoon.
“We came just to get our product recognized throughout the whole state,” explained Aird. “I also love people. I just love being so jolly.”
“I’m serious, I could stay here all day,” one guest in line told Aird.
“Top me off with the peach cider,” another guest said as the representatives poured a sample of their cider into the man’s glass.
Organizers said a souvenir sampling glass, unlimited tasting, live music, games of cornhole and food offerings were included with the cost of general admission into the event.
Proceeds will benefit downtown beautification projects of the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority.
Breweries participating included Abide Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Co., Jailhouse Brewing Company, Jekyll Brewing, Kona Brewing Co., Landshark, Lazy Magnolia, Magic Hat Brewing Company, Monday Night Brewing, New Belgium Brewing, Omission, Red Hare Brewing Company, Red Hook, Southern Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Widmer Brothers Brewing and Yuengling.
