Atlanta Founder’s Day Festival packed with fun for everyone

In 1972 Atlanta, Texas celebrated the centennial of the town with a week-long party. During the festivities a time capsule was buried with instructions to dig it up on September 9, 2022. In honor of Atlanta’s Sesquicentennial, the town is not only digging it up, but they are planning a party that won’t be forgotten any time soon.

Local businesses that are sponsoring the events are: Cass County Citizens Journal-Sun, Hanner Funeral Home, Jeff Peace Financial, Atlanta Area Rotary Club, State Bank, Red River Credit Union, Health Express, Genesis Primecare – Ellington Clinic, Bowie Cass Electric Cooperative, Kelli Cox Insurance and Price Hardware.

TIME CAPSULE

The time capsule contents will be on display at the historic Miller Grade School all day on Saturday, September 10. At that time you may claim any item that you or a family member included in the capsule in 1972.

Items should be placed in a 9x12 envelope along with $1.50, sealed and dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce office.

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

September 3, 9 am at the city ballpark. The teams will be named in honor of our founding fathers: Lumberjacks, Outlaws, Sodbusters and Rancheros. Concessions will be available.

MISS ATLANTA PAGEANT

September 3, 6:00 pm at the Mattie Lanier Richey Center on Sportsplex Drive. During the event former Atlanta Queen’s will be recognized and the scholarship winner will be crowned by Carole King Price, Miss Atlanta 1972. Admission is $5.00 per person, kids under 5 are free; concessions will be available.

The 16-18 age category will be named Miss Atlanta and receive the Atlanta Area Rotary Club $500 scholarship. Rules and entry forms are on EventBrite.Com by “Atlanta Founders Day Committee.”

ART SHOW: Atlanta, Then and Now

The 903 Artisans will hold an art show and contest at Miller Grade School the entire week leading up to the main event on September 10. The theme of the contest is “Atlanta: Then and Now” and it’s open to anyone. Rules and entry forms can be found on the” 903 Artisans” or “Atlanta, Texas History” Facebook pages.

ROTARY 5K FOR THE 150

September 10, 7:00 am start/finish on Hiram Street in front of Wood’s Plaza. At 8:30 am a kid’s walk/run will start at the same place. Registration is $20 before September 5, $25 after. You can find the registration form on the “Atlanta, Texas History” Facebook page; or sign up at: https://runsignup.com/race/TX/Atlanta/5Kfor150. Forms and payments may also be turned in at Price Hardware.

FOUNDER’S DAY MARKET

September 10, 10 am – 7 pm. Market vendors will be setting up in Wood’s Plaza prior to the parade and will be open all day. All items must be homemade or homegrown. Booth space is $20 each, register on Eventbrite.com by “Atlanta Founders Day Committee.”

FOUNDER’S DAY PARADE

The old-fashioned parade, sponsored by Kellie Cox - Farmers Insurance, will start at 10 am at the Highway Department and make its way up Hiram Street to the parking lot between Luigi’s and the railroad tracks, where the main stage will be set up. The American Legion will be leading the parade with flags and Stuart Smith will follow in his antique car with Mayor James Brooks, the new Miss Atlanta, and our Grand Marshall, UFC Flyweight Andrea KGB Lee (she will have her own booth where you can meet her, get a photo, and buy some of her merch!)

Parade entrants should adhere to the 1872 theme: small tractors pulling trailers, vintage cars (Pre-1972), bicycles, horses, walkers, marchers. No candy can be thrown. For more info contact: miranda.johnson@atlantatexas.org.

ATLANTA’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

After the parade, Bro. Joe Nelson, of Victory Baptist Church, will give the invocation and bless the day’s activities. The Big Bad Band from Rabbitland will play The Star Spangled Banner and Happy Birthday before a huge birthday cake is cut and distributed. Kellie Cox – Farmers Insurance and Atlanta Fire Department will bring a lift truck for a candy drop by the Depot.

COOKING CONTEST

September 10, all day. Judges Beth Boyd, Keith Reece and Reagan Stanley Rice will be set up in the Chamber of Commerce office. There are many categories of baking, canning and kids baking, including: cakes, pies, salsa, pickles, misc. For entry forms, email: bboyd@atlisd.net, or you can find them on the “Atlanta, Texas History” Facebook page.

BBQ COOK OFF

September 10, 5:00 pm, Chamber of Commerce parking lot. Entrants are invited to set up their pit in front of the Depot and cook some amazing cow, chicken or pig, and sell dinner plates to the crowd. For entry forms, email: bboyd@atlisd.net, or you can find them on the “Atlanta, Texas History” Facebook page.

GAMES & ACTIVITIES

September 10, all day, downtown. Old fashioned games will include: cornhole, washers, horseshoes, a sack race, kids carnival games, a pet contest and more. A cool area (canopy with fans) will be available near the stage for older adults to play dominoes, cards, chess or checkers and enjoy the music.

FOOD TRUCKS

There will be food trucks and vendors open all day on East Street, as well as LifeShare Mobile. Healthcare Express will be on hand if you eat too much or get too hot! Wagons for Veterans will be set up on Hiram Street demonstrating dutch oven cooking over a fire. You will see real antique Chuckwagons from the 1800’s and get to purchase the yummy food!

MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment on the main stage will include local talent, including: a period costume contest, beard contest and liar’s contest and gospel groups. At 2:00 pm local rap artist Cazzie Kirk will sing a few of his chart-topping hits, edited to be family friendly, of course! Winners of the food and art contests and BBQ Cook Off will be announced prior to the Street Dance.

STREET DANCE

September 10, 7:00 pm: Atlanta’s own Caption Joe Band will help us end the celebration with a bang. If you know how to “cut a rug”, then come on down and participate in the dance contest! Couples will be judged by crowd applause.

Whether you want to participate or just enjoy the old-fashioned fun and some good food, Atlanta is the place to be on September 10, 2022. For more information, rules, and entry forms, contact: atlfoundersday@gmail.com, or go to our Facebook page: Atlanta, Texas History.