Snellville Days Festival

Snellville Days
Dates First Saturday & Sunday in May
Location(s) Snellville, GA
Years active 1974-present
Website
http://www.snellvilledays.com/

The Snellville Days Festival is a two-day event held annually in Snellville, Georgia that draws crowds from all over the Southeast. The annual celebration is touted as one of the top 20 tourism events in May according to the Southeastern Tourism Society, but still holds that small town flavor. Snellville Days was voted "Best of Gwinnett" in 2012.

History

The first Snellville Days festival, held in 1974, was originally planned as a one-time event to help raise funds to develop T. W. Briscoe Park as a community gathering place but city officials found the response to be so overwhelming that they decided to make it an annual event. The two-day event has since grown to become one of the greatest craft and community festivals in the Atlanta area.

The old parade route followed U.S. Hwy. 78, but was changed in more recent years due to increased traffic volume. The route presently goes down Westeria Drive from US 78, goes left on North Road, then left on Oak Road, ending at City Hall. In earlier years, the parade had grown so much that it lasted two hours; the parade has since purposefully been reduced to approximately an hour.

Planning

Planning and execution of the event is a year-long process undertaken by the city staff, the Snellville Days Committee, and a number of volunteers.

Festivities at T.W. Briscoe Park

Festivities following the opening ceremonies once consisted of simple games such as dunking booths and local crafts and entertainment but have been greatly expanded to include hand-made arts and crafts from almost 200 vendors, live entertainment, food booths, a children’s activity area, and beginning in 2006, a museum sponsored by the Snellville Historical Society. Sponsors and vendors have contributed to the success of the festival; along with numerous volunteers and staff.

Themes and Grand Marshals by Year

Year Theme Grand Marshal
1974 Thomas W. Briscoe - former Snellville Mayor
1975 Pride in America Ludlow Porch - radio talk show host and author
1976 Snellville Salutes America Lt. Governor Zell Miller
1977 Fun & Fantasy U.S. Senator Sam Nunn
1978 Snellville Salutes the 50's Vince Dooley - Head Football Coach at the University of Georgia
1979 Walt Disney Theme Ross and Wilson - Atlanta radio DJ's
1980 Salute to the American Cowboy Clayton Moore - The Lone Ranger
1981 Snellville - Country and Proud of It! Jerry Clower - Country Comedian
1982 Everybody is Somebody in Snellville Sorrell Brooke - Boss Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard
1983 Everybody is Somebody in Snellville George Lindsey - Goober on The Andy Griffith Show
1984 Everybody is Somebody in Snellville - Winning Stories Tom T. Hall - "The Story Teller" Country Music Singer
1985 A Salute to American Heroes Steve Lundquist - Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer
1986 The Pride is Back Bill Curry - Head Football Coach at Georgia Tech
1987 Snellville Salutes our Youth Michael Damian - actor on The Young and the Restless
1988 Southern Charm Charlie Daniels - Country Music Singer
1989 Through the Years The Creel Sisters - known for their role in Parent Trap III
1990 Let Freedom Ring Tom Wopat - actor in The Dukes of Hazzard
1991 Georgia on My Mind Melly Meadows - official Scarlett O'Hara spokeswoman for United Artists
1992 Visions '92 Kim Hardee - Miss Georgia 1991
Scott Case - Football star for the Atlanta Falcons
1993 Let Us Entertain You Jerry Reed - country music singer and actor in Smokey and the Bandit
1994 Snellville Welcomes the World Georgia Governor Zell Miller
1995 Field of Dreams South Gwinnett High School Girls Championship Basketball Team
1996 Snellville Welcomes the World Jason Elam - Denver Broncos Placekicker
1997 Beach Party 1996 Brookwood High School AAAA Football Championship Team
1998 Welcome Home 1997 South Gwinnett High School AAAA Girls Fast Pitch Softball Team
1999 Year of the Athlete Lex Luger & Buff Bagwell - WCW Wrestlers
2000 Snellville Salutes the American Hero General Raymond G. Davis, USMC
2001 People Coming Together Parkview High School AAAAA Football Championship Team
2002 Our American Spirit Parade Cancelled Due to Rain
2003 Everybody's Somebody in Snellville - Celebrating 30 Years of Success David Greene - Quarterback for the University of Georgia
2004 Our American Idols Outstanding Representatives in Our Community from the areas of Education, Public Service and Business
2005 A Place to Call Home Families Representing the Foster Parent Program and
Diana DeGarmo - 2004 American Idol Runner-up
2006 Look At Us Now! T. Graham Brown - Legendary Country Performer
2007 Welcome To Our Town, Honoring The Past Kathryn Bird - Longest Living Snellville Native
2008 A One Time Event That's Lasted 35 Years Vietnam War Veterans; Jim Freeman, Richard Chambers, John Haynes
2009 Today, Tomorrow, Forever Kimberly Gittings - 2009 Miss Georgia USA
2010 Community First...Celebrating Jimmy & Mary Jane Gresham Mary Jane Gresham
2011 Bringing Families Together Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry
In 2012 the themes applied to the parade only
2012 Proud to Be... Jordan Rager of NBC's "The Voice"
2013-Parade and festival was rained out both days Happy 40th Birthday, Snellville Days... Louis Williams-Atlanta Hawks
2014 Dreams Do Come True Rennie Curran-NFL player

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