Crawford County was a major pottery center in the 1800s and into the 1930s. “Jug makers” from the Long, Merritt, Becham, Averett, Yaughn, Marshall, Bryant, Pyles, and other families shipped their churns, storage jars, jugs, bowls, pitchers, chicken waterers and ant traps all over the Southeast. The county’s clay is still prized today by folk and studio potters
In celebration of the pottery-making heritage of Crawford County, the 9th annual Georgia JugFest and Old Knoxville Days, offers a look back to a time when folks learned life skills necessary to provide comfort to their existence. This Middle Georgia festival features the best of those long ago skills that evolved into talents for creating works-of-art that are still sought after today.
You may call the Chamber of Commerce (478/836-3825) for details about our Preview Party scheduled for Thursday evening, May 16th. We will have our Pottery Show open during this festive evening, along with our Hall of Fame Induction, tours of the old Courthouse, historic Georgia Post building, Pottery Museum and Old Jail. There will be refreshments including heavy hors d’oeuvres, followed by desserts and a presentation on “firing in a wood kiln” by noted potter Shelby West. There will be music, food, drink and entertainment – we promise a good time for all!
Come join us on Friday, May 17, 2013 and enjoy our Lunch and Learn event at 12:00 noon at the Musella Baptist Church with our featured speaker, Dr. Joe Joseph. Also on Friday we will have the Peaches, Pork, and Soy Bean Cook-off, a Silent Auction and a spectacular Quilt show.
On Saturday, May 18th, we have a full day of fun beginning with the very first Georgia JugFest 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. We will have pottery and handcraft sales, heritage skills demonstrations, hit and miss engine display, tractor show and parade, quilt show, children’s activities, historic building tours and exhibits, student art show, live musical entertainment, lawnmower races, a pottery Identification event and a pottery auction.
The Crawford County Historical Society’s festival proceeds are designated for development of the Old Courthouse Cultural Center which will include the Middle Georgia Folk Pottery Museum. Proceeds from Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce activities are used for community and economic development.