Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Downtown Restrooms Updates

The public restrooms in downtown Toccoa will be receiving a facelift, courtesy of Global Partitions on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Global Partitions will be installing new partitions in both the men’s and women’s restrooms, as well as new toilet paper dispensers. They will also be providing hand driers and soap dispensers to update the restrooms as well.

Global Partitions are providing these products at no cost to the City of Toccoa, to the benefit of all who use the downtown public restrooms. The installation process will be used as a training session for Global Partition customer service employees.

The public restrooms will be closed Monday, October 24 through 27, 2011 to allow for these improvements and other repairs. The restrooms will be reopened Friday, October 28.

Main Street Toccoa and the City of Toccoa would like to thank Global Partitions for these generous gifts. The public restrooms will be outfitted, which will create a welcoming environment for visitors and residents who frequent these facilities. Please contact the Main Street Office staff for further information at 706-282-3269 or Global Partitions at 706-827-2700.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Harvest Festival October 29-30



It’s the time of year when the cooler northern winds blow through the Northeast Georgia mountains and the trees begin to change their leaves into brilliant shades of gold and red. It is also the time for the 35th Annual Toccoa Harvest Festival. This year it will be held October 29 - 30, 2011, in historic downtown Toccoa. Enjoy music and dancing while taking in the aromatic bouquet of fall mingling with roasting peanuts, mulling spices, and regional and international foods! There will be more than 175 craft and food vendors. All crafts will be "homemade, home baked, or home grown", featuring jewelry, wind chimes, candles, soaps, hand crocheted items, wreaths, wooden birdhouses and much more. There will be a wide range of mouth-watering foods including homemade cakes and fried pies, funnel cakes, peanuts, Asian, Greek, and Cajun style entrees, Bar-B-Q and almost anything else your tastebuds desire!

New this year is the arrival of an excursion train hosted by The North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 12:00. The visitors will debark at the Historic Train Depot and enjoy all that the festival offers. One of the passenger cars and the souvenir car will be open to the public during their stay. Admission is free.

This year the Harvest Festival is pleased to welcome again the Plainsmen, an American Indian drum and dance group. The group often presents dances that are not even performed often at powwows, which makes this a once in a lifetime opportunity for Toccoa residents! The Plainsmen specialize in the hoop dance and eagle dance. Audience members will even be asked to participate in some of the dances! These dances are not difficult and are sure to be fun for all that take part.

The Plainsmen will perform on Saturday and Sunday, October 29 and 30. Their dancing will be something you will not want to miss, so make plans to be in downtown Toccoa for the Harvest Festival and Plainsmen performance!

Browse the downtown antique market as well as an eclectic array of shops including antiques, gifts, art, collectibles, clothing, sportswear, and home accessories. See the Currahee Artist Guild show and sale on West Doyle Street. For children the festival will offer face painting, Atlanta Puppet, train rides, and pony rides. Other children and youth activities include a rock-climbing wall, inflatables, a petting zoo, and remote controlled race cars. Take the whole family on a free wagon ride.

The Toccoa Harvest Festival is from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and opens at 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Don't miss the fall fun at Toccoa Harvest Festival! For more information call the Toccoa Main Street office at 706-282-3309.

Costume Parade on October 31

The Toccoa Main Street program will host the twenty first annual children's Costume Parade Monday, October 31, 2011. Children will begin lining up promptly at 9:45 a.m. as the parade begins at 10:00 a.m. Preschool age children between the ages of two and five are invited to attend. Area preschools will also be participating.

This year the parade route will go down Doyle Street through the center of the downtown. The children should begin to assemble at 9:45 a.m. (so we may begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.) on West Doyle Street, in front of The Toccoa Record, and continue to form the line along the sidewalk at West Doyle Street. The children will walk down West Doyle and cross the street at Sage Street, and then continue down Doyle Street to Family Eye Care. They will then cross over to the other side and continue down the sidewalk to Sage Street. Merchants will meet the children along the way and give them goodies. Refreshments will be served at the corner of Sage St. and Doyle St. and the awards given out. Prizes will be awarded in various categories for ages 2, 3, and 4. The parade events should be over by approximately 11:30 a.m. Each child should have their name and age clearly marked on a nametag to help the judges make their choices. The Main Street program will provide treat bags. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, and refreshments will be served after the event.

Parents and grandparents are invited to watch the parade or join their children in the parade. Volunteers will direct the participants along the route and policemen will help with street crossings.

The Main Street Department invites all eligible children to come and enjoy this safe alternative. A fun time is anticipated for all. For more information, call the Main Street office at 706-282-3309.