Organizers gear up for annual Fire Fest
A challenge has been issued.
Employees at Club Car Inc. and Atlanta Gas Light Co. are in competition with each other to see who can sell the most golf cart raffle tickets for this year's Fire Fest.
The company that sells the least tickets, which both sides adamantly state will be the other, will have to cook for the winners - only hamburgers and hotdogs.
The winner will be chosen at the Oct. 12 festivalThe event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the open field and parking lots behind the Evans Kroger on Washington Road. The event is an annual festival sponsored and organized by the Rotary Club of Columbia County and Columbia County Fire Chiefs Association.
The goal of the event is to educate young people about fire safety, and to have fun.
"The opening ceremonies will be a real treat for kids this year," said Pauline Lasher, a rotary club member and marketing and promotion manager for the event.
The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. with a magician followed by Code Red, Fort Gordon's rock band. The magician will perform again before Fort Gordon's Dopey Dog and another rock band.
Some events have been approved since a planning meeting in August. Columbia County West Rotary Club, a support sponsor for the event, has organized a 10K run and a 5K run/walk beginning at 8 a.m., so runners will be finished for opening ceremonies. More than 600 runners have signed up.
Tickets purchased for the golf cart drawing will be drawn all day long for prizes including French Market Grille gift certificates, an AT&T phone and Lynx season tickets.
"This is going to be an exciting one, guys," Lasher told organizing committee members at one of the last planning sessions Tuesday. "It is going to be a lot of fun, a blast."
A separate raffle will offer two rides on the Gold Cross Air Med helicopter. The Georgia State Patrol helicopter will be on site for spectators to see . Hot air balloon rides will also be offered.
Children can learn about fire safety through the Grovetown and Martinez fire safety houses. A forestry unit booth, county fire trucks, firemen's exhibit booths and squirting a real fire hose will also be on hand for children to enjoy.
Carnival games, the Moon Walk, a petting zoo, pony rides and a playground will provide fun for the children.
The festival will feature Firemen's Muster Events, which are teams of firefighters competing in fire-related competitions.
Proceeds of the event will be split among the participating fire departments, rotary charities and the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital. Last year's event raised $25,829 and $25,000 has been raised from sponsors this year.
Corporate sponsors include Wal-Mart, A.B. Beverage Co., Club Car Inc., Kroger, Atlanta Gas Light Co., Windsor Jewelers, Proctor and Gamble, ComCast, Kicks 99 and Doctors Hospital.
Admission is free.
"This is going to be Columbia County's big free festival every year." Lasher said.