Pumpkin Derby Planned as Part of Pumpkin Daze

 

 Press Release 

Release: Immediate

Contact: Sharon Crosby

Date: October 26, 2020

RE: Pumpkin Derby

 

Coming to Toccoa…Pumpkin Derby

 

Toccoa, GA – October 26, 2020 – Main Street Toccoa is introducing a new event in 2020 called Pumpkin Daze on November 7 in downtown Toccoa from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. This event will have craft vendors, food vendors, games, a cake walk, as well as entertainment. Two of the highlights of the event will be the Pumpkin Decorating Contest and the Pumpkin Derby.

 

Pumpkin Decorating Contest Rules

The pumpkin decorating contest will take place at 11:30am prior to the Pumpkin Derby on Pond St. near the Pumpkin Derby.  Attendees should stand by at 11:00am to be judged, if they would like to participate.

Pumpkins must be decorated beforehand.

Pumpkins will be judged in three different categories: Most Creative, Scariest or Most Whimsical, and Georgia-themed. The winners in each category will receive a $25 gift certificate each to a downtown business of their choice.

 

 

Pumpkin Derby Rules

The Pumpkin Derby will take place from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on Pond St. Sign up for the event will start at 10:00am.

There will be 3 - 4 pumpkins competing at a time. The fastest pumpkin from each heat will compete in the final contest.

Everyone is invited to bring your own decorated pumpkin. Alternatively, you will be able to purchase one at the event. Pumpkins do not need to be decorated.

The grand prize is $100 cash for first place. Second place is a $50 gift certificate to a downtown business of your choice. Third place is a $25 gift certificate to a downtown business of your choice. Each participant will receive a bag of candy.

No attachments or manipulation of the pumpkins will be allowed. Participants will be responsible for their pumpkins after the race.

 

All ages are invited to participate in both contests.

 

Places are still available for vendors. For information call Sharon Crosby at 706-282-3309.

 

Joe Hott to Perform at Pumpkin Daze as Part of Night at the Ritz

 

Press Release

Release: Immediate
Contact: Tami Mayhugh
Date: October 26, 2020
RE: Historic Ritz Theatre Welcomes Joe Hott

Toccoa, GA  October 26 – The weather is getting cooler but the Historic Ritz Theatre is keeping it hot with a free performance by up-and-coming bluegrass performer Joe Hott on Saturday, November 7^th at 2:00pm as part of Main Street Toccoa’s Pumpkin Daze event.

This Night at the Ritz show was originally scheduled for 7:00pm at the theatre.  When Pumpkin Daze was planned, the decision was made to move Hott to the outdoor stage for a free concert for those attending the day-long event.

Joe is a unique blend of retro-bluegrass, traditional country, gospel music and Appalachian mountain music. This mixture makes the West Virginian a rare treasure on today’s music scene with his 6-foot, frame and handsome boyish resemblance to Hank Williams, Sr.  Striding confidentially onto the Nashville music scene, Joe is poised to become a “must see/must hear” new face and voice for a broad scope of new listeners ready to discover that “all things old become new again.”

His debut album The Last Thing on My Mind left little doubt that classic sounds are perennial—and Joe Hott is here to prove it. It would earn him a 2018 Inspirational Country Music Association nomination for “Inspirational Bluegrass Artist of the Year.” Joe would release the single “West Virginia Rail” reaching #1 on the Roots Music Report’s “Top 50 Bluegrass Song’s Chart” and #3 on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay chart. Consequently, he landed a spot on the coveted Rural Rhythm Records releasing his premiere project West Virginia Rail (the album) on the label in 2019. He closed 2019 with the single “Cry From the Cross” which debuted at #1 on Bluegrass Today’s “Gospel Weekly Airplay Chart.” It would go on to rank among the “Top 25 Songs of 2019” on Bluegrass Today’s Gospel Charts.

Our Night at the Ritz series is sponsored in part through generous grants from the Georgia Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please contact Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh at 706-244-0039 or tmayhugh@cityoftoccoa.com with any questions about Ritz events.

                                         

 

 

 

October Open Mic Monday Winner Announced!

 Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Tami Mayhugh, 706.244.0039

Date: October 26, 2020

RE: Historic Ritz Theatre selects October Open Mic Monday Winner

 Toccoa, GA – Some of this areas most talented singer/songwriters came out to the Historic Ritz theatre on October 19^th to compete in our Open Mic Monday singing competition with Carrie Bowen Sams claiming the top spot.

Sams of Clarkesville, GA won over the judges and the audience by playing guitar and singing her two original songs, “The Clearing” and “North Carolina.” In addition to making music, Sams is the children’s pastor at The Pointe Church in Toccoa. Tammy Wilkenson also from Clarkesville, GA, performed her original songs, “Price To Pay” and Time-Out” acapella while Konner Clark of Martin, GA, paid tribute to his long-distance girlfriend with “Still Waiting” and “This One Girl.” 

The next monthly competition is Monday, November 16th at 7pm. The musical category is Country.  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 2021 Ida Cox Music Festival. 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.

 

                                                                       

                                        

                                                    

Pumpkin Daze is Coming to Toccoa on November 7th!

 Press Release

Release: Immediate

Date: October 19, 2020

Contact: Sharon Crosby

RE: Pumpkin Daze

Pumpkin Daze Coming to Toccoa

Toccoa, GA – October 19, 2020 – Main Street Toccoa will host a special fall event on November 7, 2020 from 10 am. – 4 pm. in downtown Toccoa. This special event is called Pumpkin Daze and will be for the whole family. There will be craft booths, food trucks, live music, a Pumpkin Derby, a pumpkin decorating contest, as well as hayrides.

Entertainment will include; The Dance Studio 11 am – 12 noon, Steve Bryson from 12 noon – 2pm, and Jon Hott will perform bluegrass from 2 pm – 4 pm.

The pumpkin decorating contest will be from 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Winners will be announced just before the Pumpkin Derby. The Pumpkin Derby will go from 12 noon to 2:00 pm. Details for the derby can be found on the Main Street Toccoa website. www.mainstreettoccoa.com Craft booths will be set up throughout the event. Spots for craft vendors are still available and applications  can be found on the Main Street website. Food Trucks and hayrides will be available throughout the day.

While this will be a smaller oriented event downtown, we are still asking folks to wear masks and practice social distancing.

For more information or an application, go online at www.mainstreettoccoa.com or call the Main Street office at 706-282-3309.

Vintage Vixens Set to Perform on October 30th

 

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact: Tami Mayhugh
Date:10/19/,2020

RE: Historic Ritz Theatre Welcomes Vintage Vixens

 

Toccoa, GA  October 18, 2020 – Find your favorite tie-dye shirt and bellbottoms and let the Historic Ritz Theatre take you back to a time of peace, love, and rock-n-roll with the Vintage Vixens on Friday, October 30th at 7:00pm.

Inspired by 60's fashion and rockin' that retro sound, the all-female Vintage Vixens bring a mix of groovy, funky, hippie music to the stage. Their playlist includes covers of the biggest hits from Motown, The Mamas and the Papas, Turtles, Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Drifters, sprinkled with some favorites from the 70’s as well.   It’s going to be a hit fest of good time, sing-along music. The Quintet includes Amy on guitar/vocals, Janet on keyboard, Carol on drums, Vanessa on lead vocals, and founder Linda on bass.

The Vintage Vixens, a Night at the Ritz performance, is generously sponsored through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Georgia Council for the Arts.  Tickets for all shows may be purchased online at www.ritztheatretoccoa.com, www.eventbrite.com, or at the box office night of show.   Adults tickets are $10, children under 12 and students with an I.D. are $5. Doors open at 6:15. Due to social distancing guidelines seating is limited to the first one hundred and fifty guests.

 For more information on the Vintage Vixens show or Night at the Ritz, please contact Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh at tmayhugh@cityoftoccoa.com or 706.244.0039.