PHOTO GALLERY: 60th Mountain Laurel Festival draws pre-pandemic level crowds

Thousands turned out to downtown Clarkesville Saturday for the 60th-annual Mountain Laurel Festival, and organizers said it was one of the largest yet.

The event drew to more than 100 vendors, with new vendor space this year being added off the west side of the square.

The parade was a mixture of floats, walking groups, and emergency and specialty vehicles, and lasted nearly an hour.

The festival, named for the flowering plant native to the eastern U.S., was the brainchild of then-Mayor Amilee Graves, Clarkesville's first female mayor.

Mountain Laurel remains one of the state's oldest outdoor festivals, and continues to draw thousands of people each year.

There was entertainment throughout the day, food, and arts and crafts, along with Volunteers For Literacy Rubber Duck Derby on the Soque River.

With balloons in colors to celebrate Mountain Laurel, the Habersham Drug float celebrates that drug store in a timeline of its names and owners through the years, including Jackson's Pharmacy in 1958, Carson's Pharmacy in 1978, Jennings Pharmacy in 2003, and Habersham Pharmacy in 2020.

Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock waves to those along the parade route.

Clarkesville City Councilwoman Angelia Kiker makes her first Mountain Laurel parade appearance since being elected.

In Habersham County, patriotism is still politically correct, as evidenced by Saturday's Mountain Laurel Festival Parade.

The crowd of bystanders grows as the parade nears the Clarkesville square.

Capt. Chad Johnson, new Troop B commander for the Georgia State Patrol, turns head in the one of the department's new Camaros.

Bicycles, patriotism, and big rigs all are part of the Mountain Laurel Festival Parade in Clarkesville.

Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Demorest promotes its upcoming Vacation Bible School with its float in Saturday's Mountain Laurel Festival Parade.

Fred Stagner of the Mountaineer Shrine Club makes his way along the parade route.

Habersham Medical Center employees prepare to toss T-shirts to those along the parade route.

A banner on this Kinetic bucket truck memorializes the date of the 60th-annual Mountain Laurel Festival and Parade.

Habersham Electric Membership Corp. trucks are always a crowd-pleaser during local parades.

The Dawg Buggy rolls along the parade route.

LP Service personnel drive one of their propane tankers in Saturday's parade.

A pair of Ferrellgas trucks make their way along the parade route.

The Volunteers for Literacy float includes ducks donated by local businesses, organizations, and individuals.

This float by Amanda Stewart of Keller Williams Lanier Partners features a playhouse and children.

Smalltown parades always bring out smiles and patriotism from people of all ages.

Members of Volunteers for Literacy adopt out some of the more than 2,000 ducks for Saturday afternoon's Rubber Duck Derby.

People turn out in pre-pandemic levels for the 60th-annual Mountain Laurel Festival in Clarkesville.

Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church share the Gospel through song.

People fill the dining tent to listen to members of Shady Grove Baptist Church sing.

New vendor spaces spill off the west side of the Clarkesville square as booths increased to about 110 this year.

Christy Hinson and Pastor Keith Cox of Clarkesville First United Methodist Church offer free water during Saturday's festival.

Saturday's weather results in a crowd for the Mountain Laurel Festival.

Festival-goers check out the plant sale at Mauldin Gardens during Saturday's festival.

People line up for Clarkesville Baptist Church's famous sweet lemonade, a treat offered each year during special events like the Mountain Laurel Festival.

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