Clermont combines festivals this weekend

CLERMONT - The City of Clermont's 8th Annual Fall Festival helped bring in the Labor Day this year and once again, there was something there for everybody.

That's what Clermont souvenir T-shirt maker Terri Wheeler said.
Wheeler Graphix in Clermont had a table full of shirts ready for visitors and they were selling like, well, funnel cakes.

"This is what Clermont is," she said. "It's got a little bit of everything from the young folks to the old folks."

As for funnel cakes, it was 'Dot' Riner's third annual trip from her Middle Georgia home in Irwinton to sell the southern treat...sales were great.

"We're doing real good, we just enjoy coming,” she said.” We just enjoy the mountains up here anyway."

Event Chairman John Brady expected a crowd of four thousand.

Two festivals combined this year, Clermont’s 8th annual celebration and the Concord Baptist Church festival.
Brady said his town gets the fall festival season started.

"I believe we're the first or right at the first," Brady said. "Mule Camp, (held in Gainesville) and Gold Rush, (in Dahlonega) starts up after we do."

Brady said all the children's rides were free, including a giant Titanic replica inflatable toy.

The Day started with a 5K race at 8:00 a.m. and the all day singing and music performances began at 9:30.

Concord Baptist Church hosted a vintage car show with a God and Country rally scheduled for Saturday night featuring retired Army Lt. Steve Russell, who was instrumental in the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
The grand finale was the fire works display, set to begin shortly after 9:00 p.m.