The 57th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Festival typically celebrates the historic Civil War event…read moreknown as the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, where Union spies attempted to sabotage Confederate railroads. The festival usually features a variety of activities, including parades, reenactments, live music, craft vendors, and family-friendly events. Attendees can expect to enjoy historical exhibits that provide context about the original chase, along with activities aimed at engaging the community. Food vendors often play a significant role, offering local cuisine and festival favorites. Community participation is a highlight, with locals often dressing in period costumes and taking part in reenactments. The festival serves not only as an educational experience but also as a way to foster community spirit and celebrate local heritage. If you're looking for specifics about this year's events, attendance numbers, or standout moments, those details might depend on local news or festival updates.

IT'S FALL FESTIVAL SEASON!…read more Festival season is now underway and this year I have decided that we will attend a new crop of festivals that we have never attended. Our first fall festival happened to be the The Great Locomotive Chase Festival in Adairsville. The festival commemorates the great chase of "The General" after it was stolen, (by a group of Union soldiers), during a layover at the Kennesaw Depot. It traveled through Adairsville before being abandoned near Tunnel Hill. This festival features carnival rides, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, entertainment on a couple of stages, a parade and fireworks. It takes place over three days, (full days Friday and Saturday and half of a day on Sunday). Saturdays are always the biggest days and have the greatest amount of attendees so this is obviously the best day to attend. Admission is only $3 and allows you to attend all three days. Parking was only $3 and less than a block away from the festival. Festival day is very important so you start preparing the night before. Get that uniform ready, get a good night's sleep, have a plan for breakfast and make sure you have all of the pertinent information regarding time, place and weather. You want to leave early so that you can get there early because the vendors will. Many of the items such as jewelry and art are "one of a kind" so you definitely want first choice. This is the ultimate Yelping opportunity because it allows you to "shine the light" on small businesses that otherwise go unnoticed. Many of the vendors will offer unique items and this is the perfect time to start thinking about Christmas gifts. Adairsville was the perfect town to host this festival because of its historic roots, small town status and community spirit. Small towns really make the best festivals because of the "warm" people, family friendly atmosphere and great parking. Also, you not only get to experience the festival, you also get to explore the town, its history and local shops. This festival while not as large as other festivals was perfect for us. It was held at the center of Town along the Public Square with the town's historic buildings as the backdrop. The vendors were nicely spaced and there was a separate food court that including picnic tables for sitting and eating. During many festivals, you have to either stand and eat and find your own limited seating. We actually ate before arriving so did not purchase food from the court. When you travel to the smaller towns, you always encounter interesting groups like SOC, (Sons of the Confederacy,) and Georgia Carry, (Second amendment restoration). Don't presume to know what these groups are about. Step up to the table and ask them about their group or cause because they don't bite. These guys have always been very courteous and very informative while providing plenty of written information. Whenever possible, go to the source for your information instead of allowing others to interpret it for you. You will definitely be enlightened. I was happy that they started the music at the start of the festival (instead of hours later like some festivals). Browning Automatic was the group that performed this morning and they were great. I loved the classic rock tunes and was surprised at how talented these guys are, they really surprised me. We were able to sit on the bleachers to listen to them and enjoyed hearing them while we walked around the square. Today's festival included a parade which was the typical small town parade. It included the local sheriff and local community based sport teams and their little cheerleaders. It was cute to see all of these little athletes following along behind the high school football players. The parade route went right through the square, (no barriers) so it not only allowed everyone a close view, but made for great photos as well. The biggest surprise of the day was the local high school band which obviously spends a great deal of time practicing with a talented director because they could compete with any college band! They were great!