CORNELIA — Cornelia is inviting residents and visitors to celebrate one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks as the Big Red Apple turns 100 years old.
The Cornelia Downtown Development Authority will host the Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration on Saturday, June 6, at Donald Anderson Park in downtown Cornelia. Organizers describe the event as “a century of memories” and a day for generations of residents to come together and celebrate the traditions and history that have shaped the community.
The daylong celebration will run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and feature live music, family activities, local vendors, food trucks, a golf cart parade, fireworks and special events highlighting the city’s famous apple monument.
The celebration begins at 8 a.m. with a mobility session hosted by Elite Recovery, followed by a “100 Years of Dance” warmup with Smudged Academy at 8:30 a.m. A Park-to-Park Fun Run sponsored by BSG Coffee will start at 9 a.m.
Other morning activities include a plein air apple painting session with Creative Canvas at 10 a.m. and a golf cart parade through Cornelia at 10:30 a.m. Merchandise and art vendors will open at 11 a.m.
A large kids zone will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include face painting, an inflatable pirate ship, soccer darts, Connect Four basketball, an obstacle course, splash pad activities, cornhole and an ice cream truck.
Food vendors will begin serving at 4 p.m. The evening schedule includes an apple pie eating contest hosted by Lolita Bakery at 5 p.m., followed by the unveiling of the centennial Big Red Apple and a documentary presentation at 7 p.m.
The celebration will conclude with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Live music will be featured throughout the day with performances by Jake Hicks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., David Hyde from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Dustin Ledford from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
A festival map released by organizers shows Donald Anderson Park filled with local vendors, food booths, family game areas, inflatable attractions, picnic spaces and a designated beer, wine and cocktail area. The golf cart parade will travel through downtown before returning to the park.
The event comes during a milestone year for Cornelia’s iconic Big Red Apple, which was erected in 1926 to promote Northeast Georgia’s thriving apple industry. Standing atop a 10-foot-tall monument in the heart of downtown, the apple has become the city’s signature landmark and one of the most recognizable symbols in Habersham County.
Organizers say the celebration is intended to honor both the monument and the generations of residents who have helped shape Cornelia over the past century.
“This is more than a celebration,” the event description states. “It’s a reminder of where we come from, and the community that makes Cornelia special.”
Admission to the Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration is free. Organizers encourage attendees to bring the whole family for a day of entertainment, community fellowship and a look back at 100 years of Cornelia history.
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