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Dr. Ronal Graham
RINGGOLD, Ga. — Thousands of people will pack the streets downtown here today for the city’s 33rd annual 1890s Day Jamboree of music, dancing, a parade, food, fireworks, beauty pageants and a car show.
“This annual event is a way to have visitors see our town. This isn’t a moneymaker,” said Ronal Graham, a local dentist who has been the events chairman for the event the past 18 years.
“Local businesses and the city sponsor the jamboree,” he said
Many city residents will be dressed in attire of the 1890s, and the city will be a flood of red, white and blue, since the Memorial Day weekend event is when Ringgold’s streets and the courthouse lawn are loaded with American flags.
Catoosa County Commission Chairman Bill Clark said Dr. Graham does a good job coordinating the events year after year.
He said visitors coming into town for the day may park on property along Robin Road, and be shuttled by bus to the downtown area, which is sealed off for pedestrians only.
Events today kick off with the Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast — a stack, sausage, juice and coffee for $5.
After that, the prices are even more reasonable.
Parking is free. The shuttle bus is free. Admission to the jamboree is free. The car show is free. The fireworks show is free. Most everything is free, except for the artworks and food from the dozen or so vendors, organizers said.
Two stages, one sponsored by Walter Lee Jackson in front of the courthouse and the Northwest Georgia Bank stage at Nashville and Cleveland streets, will be busy with nearly two dozen musical groups, and the winners of the dance and fiddle contests.
The annual parade starts at 11 a.m. and moves along Nashville Street, from the Sparks Street intersection to where Tennessee Street crosses.
Ringgold City Manager Dan Wright said the city has reached out farther this year to let people know about the Jamboree and make them feel welcome to Ringgold.
“There are signs in Soddy-Daisy and the Red Bank area, and all the way to Dalton and to Cleveland and Bradley County,” Mr. Wright said.
Dr. Graham said he has enjoyed helping take the event from its infancy on the courthouse lawn to a level where thousands fill the city’s downtown blocks.
“We expect about 100 crafters to have items for sale, and there will be at least a dozen food vendors for the celebration,” he said.
And music is at the heart of the good times, he said.
It starts early, with Common Ground warming up the courthouse lawn stage at 9:30 a.m. today, and at the same time Johnny and The Kingpins will start the show on the Northwest Georgia Bank stage.
