September 13, 2008: Starting at 1pm
Where? Douglas County Courthouse

Douglas County residents will again come together on three Saturday afternoons in September to celebrate "Community" as the Courthouse hosts the 6th annual "September Saturdays" Celebration Festival on September 13th, 20th, and 27th. Admission and parking are free so that the whole Douglas County community may attend. Thousands attended the festival over the three Saturdays in 2007.

The Festival begins each Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. with the Community Marketplace where arts and crafts, business, organization, Church, school, and personal vendors host tents from which to display products and services to the Douglas County community. School choruses, Church choirs, bands, and other musical groups perform each Saturday afternoon from the Courthouse steps/stage, beginning with the National Anthem at 1 p.m. in front of a 20-foot by 30-foot American Flag. The Community Marketplace and musical performances continue all afternoon until 6:30 p.m. There will be a food court each week as part of the Community Marketplace.

The festival and the Community Marketplace is designed to be a cross-section of Douglas County!

Then at 8 p.m., a Family Movie lights up the outdoor Courthouse movie screen and closes out the festival each week. The movies for this year are: "Flushed Away" (September 13th), "Shrek the Third" (September 20th), and "Happy Feet" (September 27th). Residents are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the movie under the stars.

The Purpose of "September Saturdays" is to bring the residents of Douglas County together in a fun atmosphere so that they can meet and greet old friends, and make new friends - a community gets stronger when its citizens communicate.

Proceeds from booth rentals go to benefit Communities in Schools of Douglas County, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization associated with the Douglas County School System that focuses on keeping kids in schools and prepared for life via after-school programs and one-to-one mentoring for at-risk students in the Douglas County School System.

September Saturdays has raised over $31,000 for charitable causes in its history.

September 13th: Heroes Day

The September 13th festival will feature a salute to our hometown heroes, the brave men and women who take care of us every day: the Douglas County Fire/EMS Department, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the City of Douglasville Police Department, Douglas County E-911, the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard and Reserves, our veterans, and the Teachers of the Year of the Douglas County School System. Heroes Day is an annual salute to our heroes on the Saturday that is closest to September 11th, the day of the terrorist attack on America when everyday heroes went above and beyond the call of duty to their fellow man.

Each organization has been invited to host a tent or exhibit so that Douglas County citizens can visit with them, thank them for their service, and learn more about them. The Douglas County Fire/EMS Department will have its Fire Safety House, an engine, and its emergency command center for citizens to visit. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will have its CARE Teen Program driving simulator, BAT trailer, mobile prison and information from its Meth Task Force. The Douglasville Police will host its Drunk Goggles Course. Each military branch has been invited, as have veterans organizations. The Teachers of the Year and Mentors from each Douglas County school will be introduced from the Courthouse stage.

Heroes Day will open with a patriotic music program on the steps of the Douglas County Courthouse by the Heritage Baptist Church choir presenting "Faith of Our Fathers", followed by school chorus performances, the presentation of the Teachers of the Year of the Douglas County School System, a demonstration of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department K-9 Unit, and a salute to military service.

Dozens of vendors are anticipated to fill the parking lots of the Courthouse. In addition to the Heroes exhibits, there will be pony rides from the UGA Extension Service Horse Club, train rides, and a children's play area. A Food Court featuring local restaurants will offer nourishment for sale.

September 13th, Heroes Day:

• Event Set-up: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Community Marketplace: 1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Musical Performances: 1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Food Court: 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Movie "Flushed Away": 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
• FIREWORKS to honor our heroes! Viewable from the Courthouse grounds: 9:40 p.m. (approximate time)