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Chickamauga Down Home Days is a go, though help is needed

Chickamauga Community Growth Association members Jennifer Tarvin, Fanci Moore and Kelly Looney, from left, lead a meeting letting Chickamauga residents know that Down Home Days will happen this year and be better than ever.
Chickamauga Community Growth Association members Jennifer Tarvin, Fanci Moore and Kelly Looney, from left, lead a meeting letting Chickamauga residents know that Down Home Days will happen this year and be better than ever. Chickamauga Community Growth Association members Jennifer Tarvin, Fanci Moore and Kelly Looney, from left, lead a meeting letting Chickamauga residents know that Down Home Days will happen this year and be better than ever.

By Katie Ward 2 min read

photo Chickamauga residents attend the Chickamauga Growth Association meeting to learn about the upcoming Down Home Days.

The Chickamauga Community Growth Association is partnering with the Chickamauga Lions Club to keep Down Home Days going.

“This is the 44th year to do Down Home Days,” said Lions Club secretary Donna Calhoun. “People move off when they graduate and they don’t come home. They usually come home for funerals and weddings. So this is a way to bring them back for an old-fashioned homecoming type thing. It’s not a fundraiser. It’s a community project. Anything we gain, we put back into Down Home Days. Since it is a week before Memorial Day, we decided to honor veterans.”

Chili and bingo at the Chickamauga Civic Center May 19 will kick off the festivities. Bingo cards will cost a quarter apiece, helping to raise money for the club to sustain the event in years to come. Bingo prizes will be awarded and peanut butter sandwiches, chili and Little Debbies will be served.

This year’s main event will start with an Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church Pancake Breakfast May 21 from 8-10 a.m. Vendors for the main festivities will be set up by 9 a.m. and the entertainment will begin by 11 a.m.

The event welcomes 60 to 80 vendors.

The day will include a parade titled “A Tribute to Veterans and Armed Forces” and a temporary wall will showcase local veterans who have served in the military, said Calhoun.

Festival organizers are working to locate bluegrass bands, crafters and woodworkers to take part in Down Home Days, she said. A car show will be tentatively held that day as well, and the Gordon-Lee Mansion will be open for tours.

“We are trying to get everyone involved to help with events in Chickamauga,” said Chickamauga Community Growth Association’s Jennifer Tarvin. “We want to get more people involved with planning Down Home Days. Our main focus at Down Home Days is to honor the veterans. We [the Chickamauga Community Growth Association] will meet the third Thursday of every month at the Chickamauga Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.”