44th Annual Harvest Festival Scheduled for Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st

Press Release

Release:  Immediate/Harvest Festival                      

Date:   Oct. 26, 2021

Contact: Sharon Crosby

Email:  scrosby@cityoftoccoa.com                                                                            

TOCCOA, GA - The 44th annual Toccoa Harvest Festival will be held Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31, 2021. The event will boast some 125+ vendors.

There will be local crafters as well as crafters from nearby communities in Northeast, Middle and South Georgia, and South Carolina, and as far away as Florida, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Types of crafts being sold at the event include handmade quilts, soaps, fountains, jewelry, wooden furniture, wooden accessories, and wooden toys, baskets, pottery, crocheted items, Christmas decorations, wreaths, jellies, pickles, candles, children's clothing, bottle wind chimes, aprons, birdhouses, a variety of baked goods, painted gourds, folk art, blankets, pillows, neck pillows, and painted glass.

There are two entertainment stages as well as a car show on Saturday. The entertainment at Stage 1, located on Tugalo St and Sage St will begin at 10:00 am.

Saturday Schedule at Stage 1

10:00 a.m.         Toccoa Falls College Choir                                              

11:00 a.m.          Bittersweet Band 

1:00 p.m.           The Splitz Band

3:00 p.m.           Belly Dancers

3:30 p.m.           Andrew Dixon and Band 

Sunday Schedule at Stage 1

12:00                   Steve Coughlin               

2:00                     The Dance Studio

3:00                     The Bittersweet Band

The Stephens County Recreation Department is sponsoring the car show as well as the entertainment for Stage 2. It will be located at Hill St and Doyle St. Diamond Studios will be sponsoring Sunday’s entertainment at Stage 2.

Saturday Schedule at Stage 2

10:30             SCRD (NGYFA) 7U Cheerleaders with Coach Hayley Rider &

                      Briana Beatty

11:00               SCRD (NGYFA) 9-10 Cheerleaders with Coach April Crunkleton

                       & Lauren Kirkland

11:15               SCRD (NGYFA) 11-13 Cheerleaders with Coach Ashley Griffin &

                        Hope Pittman 

11:45               Mark Putt “Musician”

12:15              Jake Cheek “Musician & Song Writer”

1:00                Terry “Flash” Young & Dusty Vinson

3:00 – 5:00     Andi Banks 

Sunday Schedule at Stage 2

12:00           Secret Sparrows

1:00             Daniel Profetta 

2:00             Casey Scott

3:00            Asher LaTurno

There will be activities for children which include a very special puppet show on Saturday from 1- 4 and Carrie McQueen, a stilt walker on Sunday. The Currahee Artist Guild will host an art show and sale on Saturday and Sunday on Doyle Street. For information go to www.mainstreettoccoa.com.            

Open Mic Monday Winners Announced

 

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Tami Mayhugh, 706.244.0039

Date: October 25, 2021

RE: Historic Ritz Theatre selects September & October Open Mic Monday Winners

  Toccoa, GA – The first two competitions for Open Mic Monday are in the books with Asher Laterno winning our September contest and Jim Harper taking home the prize this month.

Laterno, a student at Toccoa Falls College performed The Script’s “Break Even” and “Need the Sun to Break,” by James Bay for the Pop/Rock competition.  Harper, a Texas native, wowed the crowd and the judges with his two original songs, “I’m Not Worried” and “Down a Country Road” to clinch the win in the Singer/Songwriter category.  Our next competition is Monday, November 15th  at 7pm and will feature Country Music.  Interested performers can sign up by email at tmayhugh@cityoftoccoa.com or at the Historic Ritz Theatre on the evening of the show on a first-come, first-up basis starting at 6pm.

Winners from each of the monthly competitions will receive $50 and a paid gig at the summer 2022 Ida Cox Music Festival and one hour free studio time at Diamond Studios. Open Mic Monday is a free event to the contestants and to the public.

For more information about Open Mic Monday, contact Tami Mayhugh, General Manager, Historic Ritz Theatre at 706.244.0039.                               

Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger to Appear at the Ritz

 

                                                                   Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact:  Tami Mayhugh, 706.244.0039

Date: October 18, 2021

 

RE: Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger to appear at the Ritz

TOCCOA, GA, October 18, 2021, – Spend Sunday afternoon, November 7^th  with comedienne and ventriloquist Lynn Trefger, along with an endless cast of characters, at the Ritz Theatre for a hilarious, family-friendly Night at the Ritz show beginning at 2pm.

Audiences will be treated to Lynn's vocal illusion talents, when they meet a drunken but lovable camel, a cantankerous old man, a feisty little girl, and even audience members brought on stage! Lynn has appeared on Star Search, TNN, VH-1, Lifetime, and Comedy Central. She is featured in the comedy/documentary, "I'm No Dummy" produced by NBC Universal.

Our Night at the Ritz Series is funded in part by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Georgia Council for the Art, and South Arts. Tickets for all shows may be purchased online or at the theatre box office night of show.  Adult tickets are $10, children 12 and under and students with an ID are $5. 

For more information on this performance or Night at the Ritz, please contact Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh at tmayhugh@cityoftoccoca.com or via phone 706.244.0039. 

Open Mic Monday Scheduled for October 18th at 7pm

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Tami Mayhugh 706.244.0039

Date: 10/11/21

RE: Open Mic Monday

Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Monday Competition Set for 10/18/21

Toccoa, GA- October 11 ,2021 –Do you write the songs that make the whole world sing? If so, join us Monday, October 18th at 7pm for our Open Mic Monday Singer/Songwriter Competition at the Historic Ritz Theatre.

Our October competition will feature all original material from each contestant. Sign up is on-line at tmayhugh@cityoftoccoa.com or at the door the night of the show on a first-come, first-up basis, until 6:30pm. Contestants can sing two songs or perform for ten minutes. Any pre-recorded music must be on a jump drive. A three-judge panel will decide a winner who will not only take home the $50 prize but secures a paid gig at the 2022 Ida Cox Summer Music Series.   This fun event is not only free for participants, but also for the public. Come hear some great talent and cheer on your favorites!

For more information about Open Mic Monday, contact Tami Mayhugh, General Manager, Historic Ritz Theatre at 706. 244.0039.

Costume Parade Scheduled for October 29th

Downtown Costume Parade

The Toccoa Main Street program will host the 30^th annual children's Costume Parade, Friday, October 29, 2021. Children will begin lining up at 9:30 a.m. as the parade begins at 10:00 a.m.

There will be two lines for the parade. The two lines will start at the corner of Doyle St and Alexander St. Those with homemade costumes, who would like to be judged, will be in one line and those who would not like to be judged will form the outside line. Prizes will be awarded in various categories for ages 2 and below, 3, and 4 and above.   For those wanting to be judged, parents or guardians will fill out a form with the child’s name, age, and contact information clearly marked to help the judges. Prizes will be awarded in several categories.

The parade route will go down Doyle Street through the center of the downtown. The children will assemble on West Doyle Street, in front of Details Salon 73, 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. The parade events should be over by approximately 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served at the corner of Sage St. and Doyle St. and the awards given out. 

Edgar Loudermilk Band to Perform on October

 

Press Release

Release: Immediate
Contact Date: October 4, 2021

RE: Historic Ritz Theatre Welcomes the Return of the Edgar Loudermilk Band

Toccoa, GA – October 4, 20201– Stephens County resident and local favorite Edgar Loudermilk, returns with his band for a Night at the Ritz at the Historic Ritz Theatre, on Friday, October 8th at 7:00pm.

Loudermilk’s signature voice, bass skills, and songwriting are a family tradition for this Louvin Brothers’ descendant. Having experienced a long tenure of performing, including several industry awards, with IIIrd Tyme Out, Rhonda Vincent, and Marty Raybon, in 2015 he stepped out forming his own band with the highly acclaimed guitarist, Jeff Autry.   In late 2019, Autry took a hiatus from the band due to health reasons.  In 2019, Georgia native and accomplished guitarist Clint Coker joined the Edgar Loudermilk Band.  Rounding out the group are Zack Autry (mandolin/harmony vocals) and Curtis Bumgarner (banjo). The band’s most recent release, “Dark Side of Lonesome” has cracked the top 10 of Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction’s Most Played list.

Night at the Ritz, a regular event series at the Historic Ritz Theatre, is funded  in part by generous grants  from the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Georgia Endowment for the Arts. Tickets for all shows may be purchased online, or at the theatre box office night of show. Adult tickets are $10, children under 12 are $5, and students with an ID are also $5.

For more information on Edgar Loudermilk’s performance or Night at the Ritz, please contact Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh at tmayhugh@cityoftoccoa.com or 706.244.0039.