Mitchell hosts first Springfest since COVID outbreak
Hundreds of people gathered in Mitchell for its annual Springfest April 22-24. Organizers Amanda Gay and Sheriff Jeremy Kelley said that while the live music and vendors, the parade, the fireworks show and Sunday morning worship service were all big draws, it seemed to be the sense of community that drew the biggest crowd.
“I think people were ready for our old normal, not this COVID normal,” Kelley said. “The Springfest Committee last year caught some blowback from people because we weren’t having it, but at that point in time it was still an iffy situation where we stood liability-wise. Some people here got sick and passed away from it.”
Gay said that she believes the annual festival grew out of the city’s centennial celebration and has been a regular event year after year for over a decade.
“I think it means a lot,” she said. “I attended this festival when I was growing up. Now my children live in Glascock County and we are at the festival all weekend. That’s really the reason we do what we do, so our children can carry on the tradition and have the opportunity to see what a great community we live in.”
Gay added that she and Kelley felt that after two years off, if they did not bring it back this Spring they could lose the support of their dedicated group of quality vendors and might not have the opportunity to bring it back as strong in the future.
“I think it turned out great,” she said. “We had great attendance and the response has been great.”
The event kicked off this year Friday, April 22, with a steak dinner promoted by the FFA Alumni Association and live music by the Dirty Rotten Stinking Scoundrels Band.
“The resounding statement I heard over and over was that people were glad to have this back,” Kelley said. “We had a couple of food vendors tell us they did more business this year than they have at any previous Springfest and one had been there since 1996.”
Vendors opened their booths early Saturday morning and served attendees throughout the day. A variety of entertainment acts took to the stage leading up to the afternoon parade.
Grand Marshalls this year were Lewis and Gail Berry.
“Mr. Lewis was chosen for his work within the community,” Gay said. “He works under the radar but he always does all kinds of stuff for the community. His wife does as well and she is also our first female mayor.”
Kelley said that much of the parade’s success can be given to Connie Jackson who emcees the event.
The Swingshift Band played into the night and Kelley said the fireworks show, sponsored this year by Brooks Brothers Construction, was one of the best they had ever had.
Sunday morning more than 11 area churches brought their congregations together at the downtown stage to worship together.
“I think that it was something that everybody needed,” Gay said. “It was an awesome experience, especially on Sunday when all the churches in our community came together and held a community worship service. I think it made everybody feel good to be able to get out and socialize again.
“We were blessed with a great crowd and wonderful weather all weekend. It made our festival so much larger and better than it could have been. Going forward we are optimistic that we will have an even better festival next year.”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Mitchell hosts first Springfest since COVID outbreak
