Grovetown celebrates heritage

A week of activities in Grovetown will introduce residents to their neighbors, their city and its leaders.

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The city's celebration of Georgia Cities Week includes seven days of family-friendly events.

Georgia Cities Week is sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association in cities statewide. The goal for the week, which features the theme Living It Up Downtown, is for cities to share information with residents about valuable services.

"We're not big like Atlanta or Savannah, but we're the biggest city around here," said Rosa Lee Owens, a city councilwoman and event organizer. "We're the biggest city in Columbia County. (The week of events) is really to let the public know what city services are available and how important they are to the community."

The week begins today in Goodale Park with a community picnic. Families are invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic lunches to the park on Wrightsboro Road between 2 and 5 p.m.

On Monday, residents may tour city hall from 3 until 5 p.m. and meet city leaders, including Mayor George James and city council members.

Carie Whittaker, the coordinator of the events, said she hopes the festivities are fun and give residents a "city education."

"My goal is to get people to know their city," she said. "You live in a little town, you should know a lot about it. And there is so much to know."

She's ready to test residents' knowledge of the city during Trivia Quiz Night at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.

"Being in the area of city hall and the Memorial Wall and things like that, there's a lot of things you can do right there," Whittaker said.

The quiz includes a scavenger hunt. A list of scavenger hunt items can be obtained at most city retail establishments, including the IGA and Food Lion grocery stores. The winner will be announced during Saturday's Grovetown Heritage Festival.

Anyone interested in playing softball can join in pick-up games at Liberty Park from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday. Whittaker said those participating should bring a white shirt and a dark shirt to form teams.

The week's finale, the Grovetown Heritage Festival, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with the Community-Unity Walk. Residents are urged to wear red and join the mile-long walk beginning at City Hall Square, at the corner of Old Wrightsboro Road and West Robinson Avenue.

"It is just to show that the community is growing, that we are concerned about our community, about our fellowship and things like that," said walk organizer Dawn Green.

The rest of the day features more than 40 arts, crafts and food vendors, karaoke and live entertainment, including performances from a Cub Scout group, square dancers, Center Stage dancers and the Grovetown Elementary School Jumping Jaguars jump-roping team, Owens said.

"There will be something for everyone to enjoy," she said.

The KIDZ Zone will feature games and rides. Awards will be given to pupils for coloring and essay contests. The Grovetown Museum will be open all day Saturday.

Vendor booths are available. For information on becoming a vendor or the festival, call Owens at (706) 863-1867.