Looking for something to do Saturday? Well, you’re in luck.

From band and drama competitions to fall festivals, there’s no shortage of activities happening across Forsyth County.

Take, for example, the Midway Saddle Club, which is holding its inaugural Memorial Show.

The event will feature trophies in memory of members of the organization, which first began in 1965, said Janice Ghorley, president.

"It lets our members of our saddle club — and our community — know now what has gone on before them," she said.

Trophies for the 22 competing classes will each be in honor of a former member.

Each trophy will be perpetual, Ghorley said, meaning they will be brought back each year and a new name added for that year’s winner.

"We hope a lot of the older members’ families will back to help us present the trophies," she said. "It’s just going to be a really special show for us."

Riders can sign up on the day of the show for $10 per class.

For the children’s stick horse show, kids can enter and get a rental toy horse for $1.

Everyone is welcome to watch and enjoy the day for a $3 admission. Children younger than 12 are free.
The show begins at 1 p.m. at the clubhouse on Seabolt Drive, off of Hwy. 369 in northwest Forsyth.

Red Door Festival

The second annual Red Door Festival is set for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit.

The free event at the Pilgrim Mill Road church will offer live local music, activities for kids, craft vendors, a secondhand sale and variety of food.

Like last year’s inaugural event, a pig roast will be held, with an adult plate going for $8 and a child’s plate for $5.

"Our goal is to grow it a little bit bigger each year and try to add on a little more," said event co-chair Christina Brislin.

The festival raises money for the church’s outreach ministries, she said, primarily providing for the monthly food pantry.

Raffles for beach and condominium stays, a wide-screen TV, computer tablet and more to support those efforts.

The festival is designed to invite the community in to the noticeable "church with the red doors," Brislin said.

North Forsyth UMC’s fall fest

Crafts, animals, live music and other treats will be the focus of the Fall Festival at North Forsyth United Methodist Church.

"This is our second year as a church, so the festival is new too," said Pastor David Coombs.

"Last year’s festival went pretty well. Of course, you never have as many as you want."

He said organizers would "love to have as many as will show" at the event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crossroads Mall, 6150 Ga. 400 North.

Festivities will include live bluegrass music, face painting, games, inflatables and bake sale.

"Last year the petting zoo animals were a big hit and a craft area for kids," Coombs said. "I’m sure those will be popular again."

Georgia Bandmasters

Sixteen marching bands from around Georgia will take to the Forsyth Central High School stadium for the Georgia Bandmasters Championships.

John Mashburn, director of Central’s Flash of Crimson Marching Band, said the bands will begin competition at 3:30 p.m.

Gates open at 2:30 p.m. and general admission is $8.

Performances will continue through 9:30 p.m. as Flash of Crimson takes the field in exhibition. Awards will be presented about 10 p.m.

"It’s a great day of family fun," said Mashburn, noting more than 1,500 high school performers will have their band’s half-time shows evaluated by nine judges.

"There will be 51 buses, 29 equipment trucks and thousands of spectators."

Besides Central, the marching bands from North, South and West Forsyth will also take part.

North Georgia College & State University’s Golden Eagle Band will perform an exhibition at 6:10 p.m.

Concessions and a DVD of band performances will be available for sale, with all proceeds benefiting the FCHS Flash of Crimson.

Parking is free and available at the Hill Educational Center on Elm Street, Central’s West Campus lot and Otwell Middle School.

Patrons are asked to not park at the Cumming Post Office.

Drama competition

Anyone interested in live theater is invited to check out a drama competition at Lambert High.

Charles Hyatt, an English teacher at the school, said Lambert will play host to a subregion drama competition beginning at 9 a.m. and running until about 5 p.m.

Hyatt said Lambert, as well as six other area high schools including South Forsyth, Forsyth Central, Johns Creek, Chattahoochee and Creekview, will each present 55-minute plays.

The public is invited to view "as much or as little" of the competition as they would like, Hyatt said.

"We ask for a $5 donation from the general public, but that’s a small price to see six great shows," he said.

The winners Saturday will advance to the regional competition on Tuesday, and region winners will compete in the state finals on Nov. 5.

Third annual Break-a-Thon

Moohan Martial Arts Academy of Cumming will hold its Third Annual Break-a-Thon from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at RBC Bank, 1640 Buford Highway.

Students from the school will break wooden boards to raise money for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

Manager Michael Spreen said in years past the event has been held for St. Jude’s Hospital.

"But we wanted to do something for a charity closer to home," he said. "We’ve raised as much as $4,200 in the past."

He explained that students collected donations. For each $5 raised, they will break a board Saturday.

"Some of them have well over 50 boards to break," Spreen said.

Guests are invited to watch the students and make additional donations.

Purple Palooza IV

A health fair with fall festival flare is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at a local retailer.

Purple Palooza IV, sponsored by Medica Forsyth Imaging Center, will be held at the Home Depot on Market Place Boulevard in Cumming.

Cathy Cathey with Medica Forsyth said about 50 physicians from the area will participate, offering a variety of health screenings.

"There will also be lots of kids’ activities, including a 22-foot slide, [inflatables], pony rides and petting zoo," she said.

In addition, a number of vendors will provide food.

Live entertainment will be provided by Forsyth Central High School’s drumline and other local groups.

Bark and Boogie Ball

Also Saturday is the seventh annual Bark and Boogie Ball, the Humane Society of Forsyth County’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Organizers expect more than 450 people for the event, which is set for 6 p.m. to midnight at the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center.

"This is going to be the biggest Bark & Boogie we’ve ever had," said co-chair Debbie Booth. "We’ve sold a lot of tickets."

The ball will feature live music, a gourmet dinner and open bar. Two bands will perform, with Big Band Atlanta providing dinner music and Band X playing dance music.

More than $110,000 worth of goods, services and trips will be available in both silent and live auctions.

Some of the trips include two tickets to the Grammys, an all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica, mountain cabins and beach vacations.

Fine art, jewelry, home décor and pet items also will be up for auction.

The funds raised will go toward a number of Humane Society functions, including spay/neuter, emergency medical care, the pet food pantry, Humane Hearts therapy program and more.