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At left, Margaret Pilkenton, Jack Park and Sammy and Lynn Park reenact the first Thanksgiving aboard a Georgia Turkey Association float before it was pulled in a parade through downtown Molena. The city held a Turkey Festival for many years before attendance dropped. In an effort to celebrate another bit of Molena history, the city will host the first ever Big Foot Fest this year Saturday, Nov. 12. The well-known ‘Elkins Creek cast’ (far right) was found outside Molena in 1994 and measured 17.5 inches long and 8.5 inches wide. At right, Spectators follow a Coca-Cola version of R2-D2 after the release of Star Wars at the Concord Country Jubilee. The Jubilee started in 1973 to honor Concord’s rich history and to bring new visitors to the area. This year’s Concord County Jubilee will feature live music by local musicians and plenty of food and arts and crafts on Oct. 15-16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with the parade set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

Pike festivals celebrate local history

By Rachel McDaniel
news@pikecountygeorgia.com

Annual celebrations in Pike County’s five unique towns have offered a glimpse into Pike’s past, including the Concord Country Jubiliee which is now in its 49th year, Molena Fest which was previously the Molena Turkey Fest and will be the Molena BigFoot Fest this year, the Pimiento Fest in Zebulon which has not been held in several years, A Day in Meansville which is now the Meansville Music Festival, the Williamson Wisteria Festival which has grown tremendously in just a few years and Vintage Days at Candler Field Museum in Williamson. 

For longtime Molena residents, turkeys weren’t just for Thanksgiving, they were a way of life. Starting in the 1940s, many Molena families began raising the birds. They became so popular the city named a Turkey Queen, entered parades and even dressed the turkeys in homemade costumes every year. 

This year’s Concord Country Jubilee will be held from  9 a.m. to 5 p.m Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16 with fun for the whole family, including entertainment, arts and crafts, food, fellowship and fun. The parade is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. 

Molena’s first ever BigFoot Fest will be held Saturday, Nov. 12 with vendors and special presentations as well as the J. Joel Edwards Public Library’s Elkins Creek 5K and 1 mile fun run/walk. Submit applications for vendors by Oct. 5 to molenacityhall@molenaga.com.

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