ANDREA 
Classic City Soul will take the stage at The Boneyard Pavilion at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 25th with a set list featuring your favorite classic Motown, Beach Music, Soul, and R&B songs. The free concert is hosted by the Downtown Development Authority. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. Downtown restaurants will be open for dining before the show and offering take-out to enjoy during the concert.
Opening day for the Swainsboro Emanuel Farmers Market is scheduled for Saturday, June 12th. The market will be held every Saturday through October 23rd from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Farmers Market Shelter at The Boneyard in Downtown Swainsboro. For more information about the Swainsboro Emanuel Farmers Market or to become a vendor, visit the market’s Facebook page.
The Splash-N-Sports splash pad located at the Billy C. Carmichael Recreation Complex will open on Saturday, May 29th. The splash pad, which was designed with kids in mind, will operate from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. The cost is $2 per person. Season passes and private parties are available. For more information, visit the Swainsboro Emanuel County Parks & Recreation Facebook page or call the Recreation Department at 478-237-8098.
Street closures for the 2021 Pine Tree Festival have been announced. All closures will be in effect through May 8th at 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Please adhere to all closures and detour routes during the event.
Closing Friday, May 7th at 2:00 p.m.
South Green Street from West Main Street to West Moring Street.
Roger Shaw Street from South Main Street to Central Street
Closing Saturday, May 8th at 7:30 a.m.
East/West Main Street (Highway 80) from Coleman Street to Central Street
North/South Main Street (Highway 1) from Lambs Bridge Road to Church Street (The portion of South Main Street that stretches from Lambs Bridge Road to Moring Street will reopen after the parade.)
North Green Street from West Main Street to Pine Street
West Pine Street from North Main Street to Green Street.
Please note that all side streets that lead into the parade route will be closed prior to and during the parade.
The 74.5 Pine Tree Festival is just around the corner. The weekend will begin with the Rhythm & Pines Music Festival, featuring the Swingin’ Medallions, Sam’s Drive-In Band, Rhett Blount & Friends, and The Gospel Stage – all taking place on Friday, May 7th.
The fun continues on Saturday, May 8th with the Opening Ceremonies kicking everything off at 10:00 a.m. in front of The Square. Afterward, eventgoers will enjoy the Grand Parade, Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show, Flight Crew Jump Rope Team, Classic Car Show, Antique Tractor Show, chainsaw carving, arts, crafts, and food vendors, and more.
For more information, visit pinetreefestival.org.
The City of Swainsboro’s Stash the Trash Citywide Clean-Up Day will be held April 17th. Participants are asked to sign up in advance and select the area they wish to clean up. Teams and groups are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded. Participants may check-in at The Boneyard beginning at 8:00 a.m. Supplies such as gloves, trash bags, and safety vests will be provided. A wrap-up party will be held at The Boneyard at 12:00 Noon. For more information, including dumpster locations and sign-up information, click here.
The Swainsboro-Emanuel County Parks and Recreation Department held a dedication ceremony on Monday, March 22, 2021, to dedicate the department’s baseball complex to Woody Nasworthy and the softball complex to Ronnie Womack.
Nasworthy retired from the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Parks and Recreation Department in 2003 as Assistant Director, after 35 years of service to our community. Woody was joined by his wife, Joy, and family, Heather, Wes and Levi Cowart and Tracy Chapman. Also attending were local dignitaries and friends. Woody was joined by his wife, Joy, and family, Heather, Wes and Levi Cowart and Tracy Chapman. Also attending were local dignitaries and friends.
Womack retired from the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Parks and Recreation Department in 2013 as Director, after 38 years of service to our community. Ronnie was joined by his wife, Vikki, and family, Ron, Stacey, Cade and Cal Womack and Tyler and Megan Womack, Briley and Kinsley, Cayley and Ben. Also attending were local dignitaries and friends.
A crowd gathered at the Swainsboro Fire Headquarters last Monday evening in support of Pastor Christine Peebles as she was presented with the OurTown Hero Award by Swainsboro Mayor Charles Schwabe.
A resident of Swainsboro since she was just 5 years old, Pastor Peebles was raised by her grandmother and grandfather, who was a Baptist minister.
“I feel that God put me in Swainsboro at the age of 5 for this time we are living in now,” Peebles said.
She entered pulpit in 1981, first leading tent revivals and street services before becoming the pastor of Victory Temple Ministry of Reconciliation. This April will mark her 23rd year as pastor of Victory Temple.
Peebles has worked to build what she considers a ministry of helping people.
“I have a love of people and reach out anywhere and anytime I see need,” she said.
One of the ways she has fulfilled her mission of helping people is through her coordination of two community food giveaways in partnership with Crider Foods. As told by Steve Jarrard, Crider Foods Plant Manager, and Peebles’ son Titus, Crider Foods President, Billy Crider, donated 40,000 pounds of chicken to be distributed within the community last May.
Jarrard enlisted Pastor Peebles to organize distribution, which she accomplished by coordinating the involvement of 98 churches from the community. After the success of the May event, Crider Foods partnered with Peebles again in November for a second giveaway. This time she purchased additional items, such as paper products, cooking oils, soap, and other home necessities to be distributed along with the chicken.
Mayor Schwabe commented, “Pastor Peebles has provided inspiration, hope, and guidance for countless people in the community.”
In addition to serving the local community, Peebles’ impact has reached far beyond Swainsboro and Emanuel County. From her support of numerous individuals and families through illness and turmoil, to providing necessities for others, to sharing her message around the world through her four published books, Pastor Peebles has touched the lives of many.
In accepting the OurTown Hero Award, Peebles noted the importance of helping those in need by reciting Matthew 25:35-40.
The City of Swainsboro’s OurTown Hero Award is presented those who have made a positive impact on the Swainsboro community. Nomination forms for the OurTown Hero award are available at Swainsboro City Hall and online at www.cityofswainsboro.org.
The Emanuel County Festival Foundation has announced that the 2021 Pine Tree Festival will be held May 7-8, 2021. The event will kick off with the Rhythm & Pines Music Festival at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7th featuring The Swingin’ Medallions, Sam’s Drive-In Band, Rhett Blount & Friends, and The Gospel Stage. Activities scheduled for Saturday, May 8th include the Grand Parade, Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show, Xtreme Team Basketball Dunk Team, arts and crafts vendors, car show, Knotty Pine Road Race, and much more. Enhanced health and safety protocols will be in place. For more information, visit pinetreefestival.org or follow the festival on Facebook.
Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department will hold its annual Daddy-Daughter Dance Friday evening, Feb. 12, from 7 until 9 p.m. at the Recreation Department Gym, 632 McLeod Bridge Road, Swainsboro. (Mark Williams Studio will be set up to take pictures from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.) The dance is for girls, ages 4 to 12, and their daddy (or an adult escort). Cost is $20 per couple. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, gym capacity restrictions will apply and the dance will be limited to 50 couples. No exceptions. Also, no one except dance couples will be permitted inside the gym. Refreshments will be limited and masks will be strongly encouraged.
Preregistration is required and will only be taken until the restricted limit is filled. For information, call Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department at 237-8098.
