29th Annual Georgia Marble Festival

The Georgia Marble Festival is  the first full weekend in October, and family fun is guaranteed for all!  The beginning of the crisp autumn weather in the North Georgia mountains signals that the festivities are about to begin. This year’s festival will take place on October 3rd & 4th.  Sponsored by the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce, the two-day Festival is attended by thousands of people from all over the southeast. Chamber staff & volunteers including Board Members, Ambassadors and countless others are hard at work in planning and executing another successful festival.  

The Kick-Off Meeting was held on April 2nd in the Community Room at the Chamber.  Members of the Board, Committee Chairpersons, and members of the local government were present and participated in Marble Festival Trivia, the purpose of which was to provide updates and additions to this year’s Festival as well as remind us of our past and heritage of the Festival.  Another purpose of the kick-off meeting was to announce the theme for this year’s Festival  - “Marble On My Mind” - as well as the colors for our volunteer’s t-shirts.  This year, our volunteers will be sporting a light blue shirt with the burgundy Marble Festival logo. 

The Marble Festival Logo has been re-drawn thanks to Wheelers Printing.  

General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and children 5 and under are free. With limited parking available near the festival grounds, a free shuttle service is provided with stops at various parking locations around town and to the automotive venue at Lawson Chevrolet. Follow the signs for convenient parking locations. The Festival is centered in Lee Newton Park just west of downtown Jasper, but related events are held for days before and all over the Pickens County area.  Below is a list of all of the activities you can expect to coincide with the 29th Annual Marble Festival.  

 

Miss Georgia Marble Beauty Pageant 

In the weeks before the Festival,  a beauty pageant is held which recognizes a bevy of beauties from the cradle right up to Ms Georgia Marble.  Participants are from new born - 21 years of age.  There are nine different age divisions, each of which will have a Queen and 2 alternates chosen.  There is also a Miss Photogenic category awarded in each division, and an overall winner is awarded in the 3 - 9, and age 10 - 21 categories.  For more information and pageant applications, please visit the following web-site: 

www.bethanysalemfd.org/pageant.html. 

5K Run/Walk Road Race

The weekend activities begin early Saturday morning with a 5K Road Race and a 1 mile Fun Run.  The Road Race is sponsored by the Jasper United Methodist Women. Proceeds go to fund the ministries of the Dorcas Circle. Call (706) 253-2100 or visit the church’s web-site for more details and entry forms (www.jasperumc.org).  Entry forms can also be found on the GA Marble Festival Website (www.georgiamarblefestival.com).  

  

Main Street Parade

At 10:00 a.m. on  Saturday morning, the annual Marble Festival Parade fills Main Street for about an hour.  The Pickens County Citizen of the Year is recognized in a place of honor during the parade.  The parade promises to be filled with excitement and fun for all. The festival theme “Marble on My Mind” is featured in the parade through downtown Jasper.  Prizes will be awarded to the floats that best carry out the theme. Log on to www.pickenschamber.com to receive an entry form. All entries must be received by September 25, 2009.  A late fee in the amount of $25 per vehicle is assessed for entries received after September 25th.  Absolutely no entries will be received after 8 a.m. Om September 20th.  Registration will be held at the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Participants should drop by the Chamber of Commerce at their convenience during those hours to register.  All pertinent information including staging areas will be given at that time, and this is the only available time to register your entry.

Rumble in the Mountains 

The Festival coincides with the Rumble in the Mountains motorcycle ride.  The bikes are at the beginning of the parade and then continue on their nearly hour long ride through picturesque Pickens County.  Please contact the Chamber for more information on this great bike ride!  

Marble Quarry Tours

Pickens County is the site of the world’s largest open pit marble quarry.  During the day on Saturday and Sunday there are Tours of the Marble Mines.  This is only time of the year that you are able to get into the quarry.  If you haven’t gone before you need to make a reservation and take the 2 hour tour next year.  Join our colorful local guides as they show you a rich slice of our county history. Quarry Tour tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so reservations should be made early. Tickets for the tours are $10 (includes festival admission) for adults, children $7, under age 5 free. Visit the Chamber website (www.pickenschamber.com) to purchase tickets.  Please make sure that you specify that you are paying for a Marble Quarry Tour.

Arts/Crafts/Food

There are many arts and crafts booths on hand to display the works of local artisans. All Arts & Crafts are handmade, and there are a large variety of artists available, from wood workers, marble sculptors, handmade clothing, to homemade jams, jellies and nuts.  Also on hand will be food vendors serving up a delicious mixture of foods and sweet treats.  Applications for both vendors are available on the Pickens Chamber web-site (www.pickenschamber.com). 

Live Music and Entertainment

A wide variety of local and regional acts will be on hand to entertain you at the park pavilion beginning after the parade on Saturday and afternoon on Sunday. This year we are trying something new for Sunday’s entertainment schedule - A Battle Of The Bands will be held from Noon until close to 5.  The winner will receive a cash prize.  Those interested in performing should submit a demo CD to the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce.  The chair of the Entertainment Committee will contact those who are accepted in Sunday’s Battle of the Bands.  

Children’s Area

A special area will be set aside for children’s entertainment. Attractions last year included a petting zoo, rock wall, obstacle course, giant slide, trackless train, Car Racing, and free arts and crafts by the staff of the Pickens County Public Library. Children will have much to do and the Festival experience will be a favorite memory.

Juried Fine Arts Competition

The Chamber of Commerce Community Room will play host to the 29th Annual Georgia Marble Festival Fine Arts Competition. The competition includes marble sculpture, three-dimensional arts, two-dimensional arts and photography. This competition draws the finest artists throughout the region. Cash Awards of Excellence totaling over $5,000 will be given for the Jury's top three selections in each category, plus an award for Best of Show. Part of the fine arts competition is a Sponsors/Artists Reception at which the winners  are announced.  This year, the Reception will be held on Thursday evening, October 1st.  The reception is by invitation only and is always a great evening - make a donation to the Marble Festival Fine Arts and you too can get one of those invitations!    

Business EXPO

Local businesses can distribute literature and talk about their products and/or services to the festival crowd through the Business Expo. This event, held on the festival grounds, has grown every year since its inception. This past year, the Expo had over 30 exhibitors and the tent was visited by thousands on Saturday and Sunday. Space is still available; call (706) 692-5600 or log onto www.pickenschamber.com to receive an entry form. 

Car Show

Corinth Baptist Church is sponsoring a Classic Car Show which will be held at Lawson Chevrolet on Saturday.  The show has been missed for the past few years, and the Chamber of Commerce is glad to bring the car show back to the festivities.  Free shuttle transportation is provided from the Festival Grounds to the event site.  

Main Street Mania

The Jasper Merchants Association and the City of Jasper sponsor a street dance on Saturday night.  The fun begins at 7:00pm in front of the marble courthouse on Main Street. The dance will feature a very popular local group, 53 West. This event is free, so bring your lawn chairs and get ready to dance!  

Mark the dates on your calendar NOW and begin inviting friends to attend. Hotel accommodations go quickly, so visit the Chamber web-site for information on where to stay during your visit.  For information on any or all the activities listed above, please visit the Chamber of Commerce office at 500 Stegall Drive in Jasper, call (706) 692-5600, email allison(at)pickenschamber.com, or log onto the Chamber website at www.pickenschamber.com. 

Written by Allison Ballew.  Denise Duncan, Doug Brooks & Don Martin also contributed to this article. 

Directions: 

From Atlanta:  Take 1-75 North from Atlanta, Exit #268 to I-575 North
Follow I-75 North to 3rd traffic signal - Highway 53 East (Interstate ends and becomes Highway 515 - Zell Miller Mountain Parkway, at the Pickens County Line) 
Turn right on Highway 53 and proceed to Lee Newton/Pickens County Chamber of Commerce Building, approximately one mile on the left across from the Jasper Middle School.

From Dahlonega/Dawsonville:  Take 53 West all the way to Tate.  At 4-way stop in Tate take a right, continuing on 53 West into Jasper.  Cross Main Street in Jasper and continue about 1/2 mile.  Festival grounds are on right across from Jasper Middle School.

Parking & Shuttles:
Shuttles run throughout the day between parking areas and festival grounds

Ingles - located on Highway 515 where you turn onto 53

Jasper Middle School - located across from festival grounds on Highway 53

Appalachian Technical College - Burnt Mountain Road

Downtown Jasper Area

 

All photographs courtesy of knowpickens.com