Boston, GA - Fall provides the perfect backdrop for family fun at festivals and celebrations. Against this beautiful backdrop, the quaint downtown area of Boston has the red carpet out to welcome runners/walkers, vendors, participants, spectators and festival goers to the 34th Annual Boston (GA) Mini-Marathon and Festival.
The Miss Boston Pageant begins the festivities. Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19 in the former Boston Primitive Baptist Church at Adams and Green Streets, the pageant gives contestants from the Boston area an opportunity to compete for titles in four categories - Wee Miss, Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Boston. Winners will be featured in the parade on festival day as well as representing Boston in other area festivals. The pageant begins at 7 PM; buy your ticket at the door. For more information contact Christine Carter at 229-403-7736 or Elizabeth Maxwell at 229-403-0673.
By Friday, October 25, the town will be dressed up and ready for company! Participants in the cook off event, Best Barbecue Butt in Boston, can sign in by 6 PM. Bill Tanner (229-226-2357) and Mark Beckham (229-498-1046) invite all competitors to enter the cook off and join the fun! Winners will be announced Saturday during the festival. Main Street will be hopping to the tunes of Forever Young; beginning at 7 PM, they will perform a live concert in Watt Park. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy their music under the stars! Local restaurants and shops will be open to add to the festivities.
Festival day, Saturday, Oct. 26, begins with vendor check in at 6 AM. Music fills the air as race/walk participants begin to line up. Runners from all across the south come to participate in the sanctioned race which covers a wheel-measured course through the pastoral countryside. After the presentation of the Star Spangled Banner, the signal sounds at 8 AM sending the runners off to complete the 13.1 mile course; walkers follow for a 5K followed by the 1-mile fun run. Register early to assure receiving a packet on race day! Winners are recognized during an awards ceremony in Watt Park at 11 AM. Brad Johnson is the race director and can be reached at: 229-221-8092.
Arts/crafts vendors and the food court are ready by 9 AM; festival goers can shop from a wide array of arts/crafts and specialty items. In addition to traditional festival fare, local restaurants will be open serving their specialties and downtown shops invite everyone to come in. Betty Hoskins is organizing these vendors; you may contact her at: 229-224-8660.
A new feature this year is the Quilt Exhibit hosted by Friendship Quilters; Laura Hooks is chairing this event and can be reached at 229-200-3104. This group hosted the highly successful Quilt Show held in the Spring during Boston's Tour of Homes. Quilts will be displayed in the former Primitive Baptist Church at the corner of Adams and Green Streets; quilts on display will be include antique as well as new creations. Exhibit hours are 10 AM - 4 PM.
At 10:30 AM, more competition takes place in Watt Park as children of all ages line up to be judged in their Hallowe'en costumes. To compete, simply come in your costume to Watt Park by 10:30. The awards ceremony at 11 AM, also in Watt Park, recognizes the winners from the race/walk events; winners will be announced by age category.
At 11:30 AM, the parade begins at the railroad on Main Street, winds through downtown, makes a loop, comes back through downtown on Jefferson Street ending in front of Commercial Bank. The parade features the newly crowned Miss Boston and her Court, floats and festival queens from surrounding communities, Thomasville High School Marching Band and Thomas County Central High School Marching Band, equestrian units and many others. Danny Groover is in charge of the parade; those wishing to enter should contact him at: 229-498-4065.
Live entertainment in Watt Park begins at 12:30 PM. Performing at that time will be the Thomas University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Karl Barton. A variety of local dancers and musicians/vocalists/entertainers will perform throughout the afternoon.
At 1 PM, there is a multi-media presentation of the history of Boston in the Boston Community Center. Always a popular event, this gives a glance into history of Boston from its beginnings as a stagecoach stop in 1837 through the virtual re-location of the town in the mid-19th century, its boom as an agricultural shipping point in the first part of the 20th century to its place now in history as a rural town of historic interest. A special photo journal commemorating the 175th Anniversary of Boston will be available to purchase; there will also be a special story time will be held immediately after the history of Boston.
A trail ride sponsored by South Georgia Equestrian Society will be held Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 PM. The registration form located on the website (www.bostonga.com/events) gives details.
Sponsored by the Boston Community Club, the 34th Annual Mini-Marathon and Festival promises a day chockfull of activities for the entire family. This is one of the premier south Georgia festivals and all proceeds are used for community events and to maintain the Boston Community Center on Main Street.
Visit Boston's website, www.bostonga.com, or call Danny Groover, festival chairman, at 229-498-4065 for more information.
