CLARKESVILLE – For the 57th year, downtown Clarkesville was transformed Saturday for the Mountain Laurel Festival.
Georgia’s oldest festival of its type, the Mountain Laurel Festival falls in May each year and features a parade, nearly 100 arts, crafts and food vendors, a car show, children’s area and day-long entertainment.
Joan Church, Habersham County chief appraiser, was selected by the Clarkesville Lions Club to serve as the 2019 Grand Marshal for the event, which is named for the flower that blooms in the region in spring and early summer.
Clarkesville City Councilman Steven Ward prepares to toss candy as Councilman Franklin Brown drives.
Habersham County Sheriff's Sgt. Eugene Kemp and K-9 Roxy make their way along Washington Street during Saturday's Mountain Laurel Festival Parade.
The Habersham County Sheriff's Office, led by one of the department's HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) units, moves along Washington Street.
Habersham County Sheriff's School Resource Officer Christy Vice and Sgt. Griggs Wall pedal through the parade route.
The brass and percussion sections of the Habersham Central High School Band of Blue march along during a drum cadence.
Grand Marshal Joan Church rides through the parade route in a Jeep. The Mountain Laurel Festival Parade has long been organized by the Clarkesville Lions Club.
South State Bank promotes the Clarkesville Lions Club, which supports children's eye care at Emory University Hospital among many other projects.
Miss Mountain Laurel Katie-Claire Highsmith Miss Pre-Teen Mountain Laurel First Runner-up Allison Highsmith prepare to toss candy during Saturday's parade.
The team from Fort 13 Airsoft and Training Center in Mt. Airy passes out literature to those attending Saturday's parade.
Families line both sides of Washington Street as the parade moves toward the Clarkesville square.
The Mountain Laurel Festival Parade coincides with Armed Forces Day and a number of former military vehicles joined in the festivities.
Young people from Cool Springs United Methodist Church in Clarkesville fill a trailer for Saturday's parade.
The Volunteers for Literacy float both celebrates 30 years of the organization and promotes the upcoming rubber duck derby.
The Habersham County Animal Care and Control staff brings out their four-wheel-drive "pup" for Saturday's parade.
Visitors check out the Woodland Critters booth during Saturday's Mountain Laurel Festival in downtown Clarkesville.
Roughly 100 arts, crafts and food vendors fill the Clarkesville square for Saturday's Mountain Laurel Festival.
Families make their way to the children's area after Saturday's parade.
Victory Baptist Church on Ga. 17 outside Clarkesville promotes its upcoming Giddy Up Junction Vacation Bible School.
That n More offers floral creations, wreaths and other items.
Antique and specialty vehicle owners display their rides in the parking lot of the former Habersham County Courthouse.
Members of the Joseph Habersham Chapter Sons of the American Revolution carry the flags at the beginning of Saturday's parade.
Reese Rennels of the Wee Miss Mountain Laurel Division looks to see where the candy she threw landed. Also shown are Sawyer Rennels and Nancy Rennels
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