THE SEASON OF FESTIVALS BEGINS

'Tis the season of neighborhood festivals... What a treat it was Sunday with another drop dead gorgeous spring day in Atlanta to fill our afternoon with one of the largest festivals in Georgia.  It was the last day of a 3 day neighborhood festival in none other than Inman Park, an east Atlanta neighborhood. Inman Park holds the distinction as the first planned streetcar garden suburb named for Samuel M. Inman an associate of its real estate developer Joel Hurt in the early1880's. 

"High up above the city, where the purest breezes and the brightest sunshine drove away the germs of disease, and where nature had lavished her best gifts, the gentlemen who conceived the thought of Inman Park found the locality above all others which they desired. It was to be a place of homes, of pretty homes, green lawns, and desirable inhabitants. And all save those who would make desirable residents have been excluded. . . . It's the prettiest, highest, healthiest and most desirable locality I ever saw. Everybody is friendly and neighborly. . . . And as far as accessibility it ranks second to no residence portion of the city. We have three car lines and frequent schedules.^"

Yep, the previous passage definitely describes what I witnessed during the search for the quintessential parking place Sunday. Yet the original intention to segregate is not what one finds today in 2018. Gentrification has followed suit but unifying factors like the fight vs the freeway brought the neighborhood together. There's a strong sense of community and pride among homeowners and renters. 



The Festival boasts the largest volunteer festival force in Georgia for all the activities with tens of 1000's of visitors coming to see the parade with unusual costumed participants and marching bands,  a Tour of Homes show- casing Inman Park's variety of residential abodes along with many types of festival activities and vendor booths. 

Folks enjoying the green space in the park

These booths flank both sides of most narrow side streets bordering the lovely park green spaces where folks can also picnic, rest/visit away from the the chaos of food and libations, artisans and musicians but still enjoy some  music.

I enjoyed a refreshing raspberry and lime popsicle. 

G is for Georgia, not Green Bay Packers

Festival food odors wafted in the air between the various food vendors and artisans of everything from upcycled goods, wooden furniture, grooming products, leather items, pottery, clothing, jewelry, to every kind of art medium.




Folks of all ages are there for a good time celebrating community pride. Each dressed in their own style for the day...

  

One thing's for sure we slept well that night!