News

200 Years 

We have a whole year ahead so look for a book,  coins and hats, time Capsule and a reminder…this county is 200 years young with history since before it was a named county. Be proud to live in this wonderful county vested in history books with many firsts! Our Celebration ends December 9, 2023…more to come.

Picture this: almost 200 years ago in 1851-1852, you and the town’s people are congregating where this Old Courthouse, the grand old building stands. The town of Knoxville teeming with people walking the down town area to the courthouse to hear the gossip. You walk up a granite staircase to get to the Grand Old Courtroom where the Judge awaits before the trials occur in the Judge’s chambers. There is no electric, no heating and air units, just fireplaces and open windows to let in the natural fresh breeze to control the temperature. You feel warmth from the blazing fireplaces and hear wood crackling all to warm the rooms upstairs. The rooms are lit by natural lighting, as the sun is shining through the oversized blown glass windows by day and kerosene lanterns by night. Carriages, buckboard wagons, and horses are all tied up front with gatherings of people outside awaiting a trial. What a different sight to our times now!

Potters and Cartoonist Mathew David Smith will be there to offer a gift for parents and children to give for your holiday shopping. More to come on number of vendors on December 10th but there will be gifts to purchase for the upcoming Christmas celebrations in your 2022 Christmas.

Parade will start in Knoxville and end up on a trek of US 80 in Roberta with a time line of history. The parade will begin with 1822-1900, middle1901-1950 and finally 1950-2022. The March of History will end in Roberta but the celebration will continue with Santa, Nativity and of course! the Lighting of the Great Tree. Come join the fun and the gift buying in our old courthouse and on the grounds. December the 10th! 9am-4pm, step off at 4:30 pm time line parade 1822-1900-1901-1950 and finally 1951- 2022, walk, ride and have some fun! Entry forms can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce 8:30-4:3o pm on weekdays or call ahead and we will mail you one. Deadline on the parade entry will be December 5th at 1PM. 

On December 10th, Our Old Courthouse will be celebrated with the potters inside. The entry at the ground level, once open was called a shot gun entrance as you could shoot a shotgun straight through and never hit a room. No Guns Allowed now but… At that time in history, 1822, one could ride his horse down hearing bone brick flooring inside the courthouse to each of the rooms. Taxes, death certificates, marriage records, and so on were all taken care of in the rooms at ground level. Our potters will be front and center in the old courthouse to show you what came to Crawford and stayed a tradition. One of those is pottery making. The kiln in the Knoxville Bottom will be ready and full of pottery along with potters inside to sell those beautiful works of art. What a Christmas Gift! More crafters will be on the grounds of the courthouse in the grand old Tent or two or three to keep the chill off and still enjoy the shopping. Contact the Chamber if you are one of those who would like to sell your crafts at 478-836-3825.

Early in the morning at 9 am a gun will fire and the once in 200 years classic 5K and one Mile Fun run will be run. Larry Carpenter is Race Manager has it up for registration on Macon Track. It is truly and first and last race of two hundred years in celebration!

Outside food trucks will have the show along with the potters inside and some of the craft vendors outside as well. A Cartoonist will be there to autograph books Mathew Smith a graduate of Crawford County and making a name for himself in this art of words and drawn characters. Cartoonists were hits of the printed era–no TV very few radios and people talking with neighbors and books to read or to be shared. Who knows…Maybe someone will ride up on a horse!

Touring this old building and much more, the Crawford County Historical Society and the Bicentennial Steering Committee are planning a week-long celebration from December 4^th-December 10^th with a Birthday Party on Friday, December 9, 2022. A grand week of events celebrating 200 years for Crawford County.

But WAIT!

Let’s go to the beginning the celebration! DECEMBER 4th! – 10th!

December 4^th, churches will be the focus with the hope they will share and sing some of the old gospels and maybe have lunch together. Sharing photos of the congregation in the 1822 attire. Those photo’s will go in a Book of Memories to be on sale after the week long celebration.

Monday, December 5th -the 8th our Board of Education auditorium will be the stage for the Essay Contest for ages 8 and up. Winners of the Essay Contest will receive cash prizes so get those stories of how you would have lived in the 1822. A walk-through art show will also be an attraction while the winners of the Essay Contest are presented. Drama with aspects of 1900’s and Music our Bands will  be the order and will fill the seats in the auditorium. It is all good in drama to concerts by the bands and winners of the Essay Contest. Deadline for Essay is October 31 or postmarked Oct.31, 2022 

The Birthday Party will begin at 2:00 pm and going through every evening on Friday, December 9^th.  On the actual date December 9th 1822 US Congress recognized Crawford as one of Georgia’s counties. A day of celebration will end with fireworks after being entertained by a band for street part and of course a Birthday Cake and so much more fun and games.

The Annual Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 10^th and will be the tail end of the celebration starting in Knoxville in the morning and continue into Roberta in the evening with Chamber Christmas festivities, vendors, and lighting of the great tree.

Roberta, now the only incorporated township in Crawford County, is the hub of the county.  In the beginning, small villages were all over the county and many of them are now just names or dust to be remembered by the families who had roots in our County of Crawford. So much more is in the process of the Bicentennial celebration and update will be shared in many areas!

These are the people who are working to provide this celebration:

Richard Hatcher – President

Terry Howard -Vice President

Troy Cook-Financial Director

Barbara Cook-Treasurer

Patti Temple-Secretary

Our members who are in the planning include:

Commissioner Jackie McGowen, Frankie McAfee, Jim Bennett, Tisa Horton, Stephanie Harris, Tom Pressley, and Mathew Smith. All are welcome and encouraged to come join us to plan and execute the week-long celebration of what we know of as Crawford County, Georgia.

If you are passionate about history or Crawford County, and better yet, the history of Crawford County, please join our committee!

Artists among us!

Jug Fest crafts and pottery are the best! Come enjoy the many artists who bring their talents 

Regarding those in our community who are gifted in the arts like the following four people, we have many more who have talents by pen or pen and pencils with splashes of paint and hues as well. Let us know at the Chamber and we will show you off in Did you know about this?

Victoria Simmons, has produced two books. Vanish Towns Remembered in Crawford and Peach County. A good read for history preservation and to sit back and read the romantics of the past. The towns gone are still remembered in many history books, however, Simmons researched and found old photos of towns in the book. Her research added to the lesson in history of the towns in Crawford and Peach County that have vanished but still are remembered. Here second book is written by hearts following and here ministry…Day at a time with God. Those readers who have purchased the book have turned the book into a read until finsihed… instead of one day at a time.

Three Authors-three different audiences

Tony Byram, a retired educator and coach, has written a book entitled Gametime.  In his book, Tony presents a fictional account of what the outcome might be if the ten best teams of his career were to compete against one another. Each team is described in detail and the outcomes are based on real life statistics and individual talents. Twenty-one of his thirty-six years of coaching were spent in Crawford County.  The players come alive and they get their chance to shine once again years after hanging up their cleats.  Many players are named in the book.

Stephen (Steve) Davis, a retired banker, penned a collection of stories, jokes and anecdotes. The stories may be humorous, but all teach “life lessons”.  The expression “Boomer Boys”, refers to the generation that was  born post WWII.  Many of the characters in the book are kin to the author and  many are friends and acquaintances,  so the author’s experiences are related to real people. Steve did not want to lose the stories, so he began writing them down some thirty years ago..  He does a great job of passing the stories on.

David Hunt, a retired educator, writes children’s books about dogs.  The main character is a Maltese-Yorkie named Sweet Willie McDuffie. During trips to the veterinarian, wh

en Wiliie was a puppy, David would  make up songs about Willie,  which resulted in the song “Sweet Willie McDuffie” and that’s when the author decided to write a book. Two Willie McDuffie books have been published: “Willie Takes the High Road” and “The Furry Worrier”. The stories are about bullying and worry.

Norma Jeanne Trammell, an artist in her own right, does a wonderful job of illustrating The Willie McDuffie books.  She once taught the fourth grade and kindergarten in Crawford County.  She presently resides in Monticello, GA.  Visit her website at www.normajeantrammellart.com.

There are many others out there who are gifted artists let us see some of your  works! See our quilters and our other artists at the Georgia Jug Fest where artistry is celebrated.

Georgia Jug Festival
                     “for the love of mud”

See you May 18, 2024!For the love of Mud!

The Kiln at Knoxville Bottom will be Saturday May 13 by Stephen Johnson and Shelby West. Shelby will be putting some of his talent in the kiln and selling them at Georgia Jug Festival May 20th. Both you men have been involved with potter for many years. Many thanks to these local students who have been with the Jug Fest since it was a very young years…Little Brown Jug Fest was Shelby Wests first demonstration and sales. Stephen followed with his students on the field and his own creations. Pottery Lives in Crawford for the love of mud!

Look for our Festival Card brochure and come festival with us

For the Love Of Mud

Check out the growing list of Sponsors we also have Crawford Family Medicine  and Knoxville Store and both are Silver supporters. We thank all the many people who assist in some way to make Georgia Jug Fest Fun! Check out the Chamber Facebook for updates and Facebook Ads! For the love of mud! Come Festival with us May 20, 2023! at the 17th Georgia Jug Festival. Visit www.GeorgiaJugFestival.org 

No Admission and Free Parking —save you money to by from our Pottery and Art Vendors …that will be more fun!

“for the love of mud!”       

The West Memorial Birdhouse Contest will be on display at the Harris Arena with our CCHS Art Show.

As Always!…It is Free Admission, Free Parking and Free enjoyment for the family unless you choose to purchase from our many pottery and craft vendors we plan to have. Children’s Little Brown Jug area will be filled with old time events, pottery and craft making and so much more!  Come have Fun on May 20, 2023

Crawford County Historical Society, Jug Fest 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run

8th Annual GA JugFest 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run

May 20, 2023 Knoxville, Georgia

Lunch and Learn  held at Musella Baptist Church, Musella, Georgia 2023. Potters, Arts and Crafts available for your shopping needs! Stephen  Johnson, Shelby West, Jon and Constance Brinley, Derrek Bellflower, Kris Robson, just to name a few.  Kiln will be fired on May 13 and many items will be ready to sell including Johnson and West pottery. 

Pottery –  Potters and Crafters still have time to sign-up

Arts, Crafts and more! Here is the List! Shelby West, Hay’s Clay (Stephen Johnson) and hoping all the potters you are glad to see each year will be set up and ready to sell. Our wood workers and other crafts will be set up for all to visit and buy lovely gifts. Many have gone the old ways stitching beautiful Quilts, clothing, children’s things, wood working, gardeners choice plants and much more

Entertainment on the field

Band preformance

Little Miss and Little Mister Jug Festival  and

The  Puppy Pageant  see our flyer

Plan to come Enjoy a beautiful day! Check out the Chamber Facebook for updates and Facebook Ads!

Georgia Jug Festival and Old Knoxville Days  is Co-sponsored by Crawford County Historical Society and the Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce 

more are as follows:
I will be updating this information very soon! For the love of mud! look at our Sponsors! Support them and THANK YOU SPONSORS!

Sponsor Recognition/Our List Grows by Our Community Involvement 

Bibb Home Improvement – Ken Smith        Heath Holly         Roberta Mayor and Council       

Crawford County Government /Honorable Commissioners             

Flint Energies               Atlanta Sand and Supply         

Georgia Power Champion’s Restaurant         The Council on Alcohol and Drugs       Southern Rivers Energy

Community Ambulance                           Roberta Drug Store               

Public Service Telephone  Crawford Co. Middle School             

Crawford County Farm Bureau    Roberta Hardware 

                                      Special Thanks to Media Friends 

Official yard sites range from multi-organizational group sites to the official individual sites. As you are traveling during this event, look for the The Official Site Banners and Official Vendor Yard Signs which will be located along Hwy 341 for places to stop and shop!

Come join us as a shopper and look at all the places open for your business to find the treasure your are looking to have. Take a minute to link to Peaches to the Beaches viewing the easy to read and follow the link to Peaches to the Beaches mapping system and see for yourself the many places to shop ’till you drop. All your favorite place are there in your home town and county!

Come to 39 Wright Avenue and have your business or off site vendor spot on a map that travels…well it will show all those traveling where you are on the “longest yard sale in Georgia!” Remember price goes up on February 1, 2019 from $30 to $50 and more the six vendor off sites locations $180 to $200. Food only is priced at $40 and late charge is $10

Become an Official Peaches to the Beaches in 2024
space. After February 1, 2023: $40 per space
2)RENT an Official Yard Sign to be placed at your choice of location. $40 per official yard sign;
After February 1, 2020: $60 per official yard sign. Note: After February 1, we cannot guarantee that your listing will be included on vendor/site maps, website, listings, etc. Official Yard Signs available while supplies last.
3)RENT an Official Site Banner to be an official site (for locations with 6 or more vendors).
$200 per official site banner. Note: After February 10, we cannot guarantee that your site will be included on vendor/site maps, websites, listings, etc. Official sites also have the option to be an Official Contest Stamp Location. Official Contest Stamp Locations agree to have someone available to stamp forms from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days of the event.
Come have fun, shop, or sell!!

To become an Official Vendor, contact the
Patti Temple
Roberta Crawford County Chamber of Commerce
478-836-3825
Mail: P.O. Box 417
Roberta Georgia 31078

Shopping fever is hard to quench and clean cupboard, carports, closets and outbuilding a treasure to have not to mention the money you can raise!