A beloved annual tradition that celebrates local history and mountain culture will roll around for the 56th year – minus an isolated COVID interruption – the usual second and third weekends in October, albeit with a new name and under the direction of a different group of volunteers.
A defining event in Union County since 1969, the Blairsville Sorghum Festival was “permanently shut down” by its longtime organizers at the beginning of last month.
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But Blairsville will have a sorghum festival after all this year, dubbed the “Sorghum in the Mountains Festival.”
Not wanting to see the festival disappear, and despite the challenges involved, the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce, Union County Government and other groups and individuals have rallied to keep the tradition alive.
Chamber President Steve Rowe said the name change is due to the “Sorghum Festival” already being in use – or, rather, “reserved” by the former organizers of the event, the Blairsville Sorghum Festival Club.
If possible, Rowe said the newly organized effort would gladly accept the help of original club members to work alongside the chamber and other community members and organizations to make the event a success another year running.
“Any of the previous group that wants to come and help, they’re more than welcome and we’d love to have them come and help,” Rowe invited.
Regardless, Rowe revealed that guests can expect a similar experience to years past.
“We do understand that if you change, you’re going to lose some people,” he said, detailing a healthy respect for upholding tradition and educating locals and tourists alike about Appalachian heritage and history.
Admission should be “about the same” price, and while sorghum syrup will certainly be involved in the festival, Rowe said particulars are still being hammered out as to who will produce it and whether there will be live cooking and bottling in Meeks Park.
With plans to keep the layout and idea largely the same, Rowe hopes to invite more bands to the stage for entertainment, though he wasn’t ready to reveal any specific musicians last week.
The culturally symbolic games, too, like pole climbin’ and rock throwin’, will return, but hopefully with more additions; Rowe similarly clarified that it was too early to provide examples of new games at this point.
When it comes to putting everything together, Rowe likens the chamber’s role to being “record keepers.” Still, he appreciates the involvement of people like Blairsville Police Chief Michael “Bear” Baxter and groups such as the Union County Historical Society. The Rotary Club of Union County has also expressed an interest in assisting.
“It’s definitely a community (project), and that’s what we’re trying to set it up for going forward so that it is a pure community event that is not just one group,” said Rowe, which will hopefully make the festival more sustainable and increase local organizational buy-in.
At present, Rowe said that one of the main focuses is to inform returning vendors that the festival will return this year, and there’s been a push to stoke the interest of new merchants. Along with that, there’s a major need for volunteers to help ensure everything runs smoothly.
Anyone who is interested in having a hand in the revival, whether as a vendor or a volunteer, should contact the chamber at 706-745-5789 or visit www.visitblairsvillega.com to register.
