On Monday, July 6, the Kaolin Festival Committee provided an update on the 2020 Kaolin Festival.
The Kaolin Festival Committee noted that “at this time” festival attendees should expect concerts to be held on the nights of Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10, as well as the annual Kaolin Festival Parade on the morning of Saturday, October 10.
The Committee stated intentions to hold the continuation of mine tours, heavy equipment displays, and car show cruise-in if possible.
Following discussion and the advisement of local health and safety officials for crowd limitations and restrictions stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 situation, no food, art, or craft vendors will be staged at the Sandersville Elementary School (SES), as in recent years. There will also be no Children’s Activity Zone located at SES.
“We want to continue this annual tradition in the safest manner possible for participants, attendees, and our community. We will continue to monitor safety precautions and executive orders, but for now this is the plan,” said a post via the Kaolin Festival Facebook page.
In a subsequent social media post, the Kaolin Festival Committee announced the new brand for the Kaolin Festival, which was made by the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute through the UGA Archway Partnership. Click HERE to view a newly released video by the Kaolin Festival Committee.
The Kaolin Festival Committee also noted that parade applications will be available by clicking HERE on July 13th.
For 2020 Kaolin Festival sponsorship opportunities, click HERE.
On Wednesday, June 24, the Miss Kaolin Beauty Pageant announced that the next Miss Kaolin Pageant would be postponed until 2021. The Pageant stated that all 2019 Queens will continue to hold their reign, including 2019 Miss Kaolin, Logan Wright. The Miss Kaolin Pageant stated intentions to highlight current and past queens during the Kaolin Festival season, and that more details would be made available at a late date.
A Quick Glimpse at the History of the Kaolin Festival
In the fall of 1956, Washington County staged the first Kaolin Festival. The first festival, chaired by Howard Sheppard, featured a golf tournament, kaolin mine or plant tours, a street dance, and a parade. The annual Kaolin Festival has grown over the years to become a staple to Washington County. Although the festival is held the 2nd weekend in October each year, it has grown to include a plethora of events, beginning as early as the first of September and continuing through October.