The 45th annual Buggy Days Festival is upon us and one of its signature events, the annual greased pig chase, may be on its last leg. This could be the last year for the event, which is adored by kids but abhorred by the various animal rights groups and their activists – the vast majority of whom do not live here. ’The Georgia Animal Rights Group has been on us all year about ending the pig chase. It was a huge ordeal. A national petition on change.org gathered almost 500,000 signatures. The chamber board met several times to discuss it and eventually decided to table the discussion until after Buggy Days,’ chamber president Chris Deraney said last week. So, the pig chase is being deemphasized this year and its future is in doubt. What is being emphasized at the Old Fashioned Games which begin at 5 p.m. Sept. 22 at the rodeo arena on Roberta Drive, is a large carnival area with rides. Unlimited ride access is $10. The annual fireworks display will begin at dusk. Buggy Days officially kicks off this Saturday, Sept. 15 with the annual Miss Buggy Days Pageant at the Fine Arts Center. The annual golf tournament at Morgan Dairy Golf Club is set for Wednesday, Sept. 19. Call 770-550-3620 for more information as the field is nearly full. A new event is the Buggy Days kickoff party at Deraney’s Two City Tavern on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 5-7 p.m. featuring live music. Buggy Days will take on a distinct beach music feel on Friday, Sept. 21 when The Swingin Medallions headline a concert at Ritz Park. Gates open at 5 p.m. with a DJ spinning tunes. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. The Arts & Crafts Fair begins Saturday morning and runs through Sunday evening downtown. The annual Buggy Days Parade will begin at 2 p.m. It will be led by grand marshals Mike and Linda Brutz, the reigning citizens of the year. For more information on Buggy Days, contact the chamber of commerce at 770-358-5884.
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