In Kingsland, Georgia, every Labor Day weekend, there is a festival that takes place and is very much alive with folklore and folklife. The festival was originally started by the city betterment committee in order to encourage local collaboration and fraternization but has by far exceeded the expectations of very many people. The entire community is brought together for a weekend out of the year and celebrates everything from catfish to country music. Nearly the entire county and many surrounding communities come together to enjoy the many facets of each others culture. These range from karate demonstrations to "gator on a stick" nearly every imaginable southern tradition is touched upon during this celebration, but it all comes back to two great local traditions of "good ole catfish and country music." In the twenty some odd years that people have been known to consume huge amounts of catfish in a weekend many a sights have been seen.
The festival usually kicks off on Saturday morning with a bike race and running race usually a 5k and a 10k. Followed by the ever popular parade that usually begins around 9:00 am. The parade always consists of local interest groups such as the VFW and the American Legion post's, ethnic groups, and the local Shriners with their clowns and crazy floats and go-carts. Then there are the Camden County Marching Wildcats some 200 strong sometimes. The Camden County Cheerleaders usually are riding on one of the loudest fire engines you will ever hear for all of the local male pleasure. Local churches also often make floats and pass out tracks and candy to all who inquire. The parade is kind of the unofficial kickoff to the festival in general. At the conclusion to the parade the masses generally flock to the shops and vendors.
The vendors and shops are from locally and neighboring communities that are in search to sell their goods and bring a smile to young children with their crafts and workmanships.
Have you ever seen a 40-pound catfish? ... My dad and I would drive up a few days before the fireworks festival, and my brothers Kenny and Kyle would drive up a day after. ... We spent hours fishing for just the right size perch to catch "eatin' size" catfish, as Uncle Kent would say. ... An impeccable place for catching catfish. ... It looked as if it had eaten every other catfish in the lake. ...
