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Weekends in September have been a source of nonstop fun in Forsyth County, though the recent torrential rains have had some say in events planned for this Saturday.
At least two — a chili cookoff and the Play in the Park Family Fun Festival, both at Central Park — have been washed out.
While discouraging, the news wasn’t entirely unexpected given that nearly 10 inches of rain fell between Sept. 14 and Tuesday in Forsyth County, flooding some roads and fields and canceling school for a day.
Still, for the Junior Service League of Forsyth County, which organized the first-ever cookoff, it was the second weather-related setback of the year.
“This is our second attempt to do it,” said Heather Tallant, league president. “We tried to do it at the arts festival last spring that was also held at Central Park, but due to weather we had to cancel that one too. So we’re very disappointed.”
The cookoff was paired with the family fun festival, sponsored by the county government, which also was canceled because the park’s fields were flooded.
“We can’t reschedule it because there are too many activities on the fields,” said Laura Pate, program supervisor for county parks and recreation.
“We put so much hard work into it.”
But the weekend isn’t a total wash, at least not yet.
With the forecast calling for an increasing chance of thunderstorms and showers through the weekend, several events are still planned.
Take the kids fishing
The 19th annual Take A Kid Fishing event is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lower Pool Park below Buford Dam.
The event is sponsored by the Cumming Kiwanis Club, as well as many area fishing associations and lake and river groups.
Allen Dunning, president of the club, said the goal of the event extends beyond teaching children to fish.
“It gives them quality time with their parents, plus they get to interact with other children there and, of course, they get to appreciate nature,” he said.
The Buford Trout Hatchery will stock the dam with more than 2,500 rainbow trout for children to catch and keep.
Kiwanians will help with parking and serve hot dogs and snacks. Dunning said the club served more than 700 hot dogs during last year’s event.
While there, participants can get a look at Lake Lanier, whose water level the heavy rains have lifted to about 1,068 feet above sea level.
The event is free and open to children 15 years old and younger and their parents. Contact: www.cummingkiwanis.org.
Pasta fundraiser benefits hospital
Organizers of an annual spaghetti fundraiser are setting the table for a big feast to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The 17th annual Spaghetti-A-Thon runs from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Norman’s Landing restaurant.
Along with heaping plates of pasta, there will be live music, inflatables, pony rides, a silent auction and hook-and-ladder fire trucks.
Restaurant owner Bill Norman has said the event offers “fun for the whole family.”
The fundraiser, which has raised $127,000 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, generally draws a large crowd.
Norman’s Landing restaurant is on Peachtree Parkway, off Exit 13 at Ga. 400. Plates are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Church holding family festival
Less than a year after forming, the River United Methodist Church will hold its second annual Family Festival on Sunday.
“We are a new church that’s just starting up here in south Forsyth and we wanted to get our name out there, as well as get the community involved in what we’re doing,” said event organizer Ashley Colbert. “We wanted something that would bring everyone out.”
The event, which runs from 3 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Sharon Springs Park, will include a concert by the Pete Whitfield Band at 5:30 p.m.
There will also be hot air balloon rides, cookie decorating, face painting, a bounce house, raffles and arts and crafts, Colbert said.
Proceeds go toward purchasing handicap swings for county parks.
The event was inspired by a congregation member who is wheelchair bound, Colbert said.
Tickets: $5 for adults and teenagers; $3 for children younger than 12; free ages 3 and younger. Family passes are $15. Contact: www.riverumc.org.
At least two — a chili cookoff and the Play in the Park Family Fun Festival, both at Central Park — have been washed out.
While discouraging, the news wasn’t entirely unexpected given that nearly 10 inches of rain fell between Sept. 14 and Tuesday in Forsyth County, flooding some roads and fields and canceling school for a day.
Still, for the Junior Service League of Forsyth County, which organized the first-ever cookoff, it was the second weather-related setback of the year.
“This is our second attempt to do it,” said Heather Tallant, league president. “We tried to do it at the arts festival last spring that was also held at Central Park, but due to weather we had to cancel that one too. So we’re very disappointed.”
The cookoff was paired with the family fun festival, sponsored by the county government, which also was canceled because the park’s fields were flooded.
“We can’t reschedule it because there are too many activities on the fields,” said Laura Pate, program supervisor for county parks and recreation.
“We put so much hard work into it.”
But the weekend isn’t a total wash, at least not yet.
With the forecast calling for an increasing chance of thunderstorms and showers through the weekend, several events are still planned.
Take the kids fishing
The 19th annual Take A Kid Fishing event is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lower Pool Park below Buford Dam.
The event is sponsored by the Cumming Kiwanis Club, as well as many area fishing associations and lake and river groups.
Allen Dunning, president of the club, said the goal of the event extends beyond teaching children to fish.
“It gives them quality time with their parents, plus they get to interact with other children there and, of course, they get to appreciate nature,” he said.
The Buford Trout Hatchery will stock the dam with more than 2,500 rainbow trout for children to catch and keep.
Kiwanians will help with parking and serve hot dogs and snacks. Dunning said the club served more than 700 hot dogs during last year’s event.
While there, participants can get a look at Lake Lanier, whose water level the heavy rains have lifted to about 1,068 feet above sea level.
The event is free and open to children 15 years old and younger and their parents. Contact: www.cummingkiwanis.org.
Pasta fundraiser benefits hospital
Organizers of an annual spaghetti fundraiser are setting the table for a big feast to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The 17th annual Spaghetti-A-Thon runs from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Norman’s Landing restaurant.
Along with heaping plates of pasta, there will be live music, inflatables, pony rides, a silent auction and hook-and-ladder fire trucks.
Restaurant owner Bill Norman has said the event offers “fun for the whole family.”
The fundraiser, which has raised $127,000 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, generally draws a large crowd.
Norman’s Landing restaurant is on Peachtree Parkway, off Exit 13 at Ga. 400. Plates are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Church holding family festival
Less than a year after forming, the River United Methodist Church will hold its second annual Family Festival on Sunday.
“We are a new church that’s just starting up here in south Forsyth and we wanted to get our name out there, as well as get the community involved in what we’re doing,” said event organizer Ashley Colbert. “We wanted something that would bring everyone out.”
The event, which runs from 3 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Sharon Springs Park, will include a concert by the Pete Whitfield Band at 5:30 p.m.
There will also be hot air balloon rides, cookie decorating, face painting, a bounce house, raffles and arts and crafts, Colbert said.
Proceeds go toward purchasing handicap swings for county parks.
The event was inspired by a congregation member who is wheelchair bound, Colbert said.
Tickets: $5 for adults and teenagers; $3 for children younger than 12; free ages 3 and younger. Family passes are $15. Contact: www.riverumc.org.