Fans of classic cars, giant board games, antique tractors and local history can experience it all at the second annual Varnell Day on Saturday.
The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on a large field located at 4421 Ga. 2 between Varnell Gym and Varnell Elementary School. Admission is free and it’s a family-friendly Varnell festival filled with games, food, music and fun.
“This is being held by the city of Burnell to celebrate Burnell’s history,” said Nicole Turner, chairwoman of the city of Burnell’s events committee. “It starts where the old softball field was and goes all the way to (near) the Burnell City Athletic Field. It’s for that whole area.”
Free activities include inflatables, face painting, a zoo, and a car cruise-in, where attendees can participate by driving classic and eye-catching vehicles around the region.
“This isn’t a show club. We want residents and locals to bring their cars in any condition,” Turner said, “so they can meet other people and talk about their cars. We’ll have lanes marked as cruise-in parking and they can just park there.”
Turner said one car owner will receive a People’s Choice award.
“This is not just for fun, it’s an event where people can come and see what’s out there,” she said. “The winners will receive trophies.”
Turner said the first 50 Cruise-in cars will receive a dashboard plaque, described as a business-card-sized magnet, commemorating the 2024 celebration.
Parking will be free for cruise-ins and general admission, and “signage will be provided at all entrances,” Turner said.
Public parking is located at Varnell Elementary School. Cruise-in parking is located at the exit between the school and the playground. Handicapped parking is located at Varnell Gymnasium.
There will also be booths from the City of Varnell, the Varnell Crafting Club and Varnell Silver Sneakers. The city’s booth will be handing out free popcorn and magnets.
“There will also be artifacts from the city’s past on display,” Turner said, “and we will have a few ‘historians’ coming in every hour. They’re basically longtime residents of the city who remember the changes in the city and are knowledgeable about the history. They’ll be there to talk to people, teach them and answer questions about what’s happened over the years.”
There will also be games for all ages, including giant Connect Four and cornhole, sidewalk chalk and bubbles for little ones, and a “touch the truck” experience where kids can talk to officers and emergency responders and explore vehicles used by the Varnell Police Department, Whitfield County Fire Department and Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency.
“The Peach State Antique Tractor and Engine Club will also be there,” Turner said. “This is actually their second year participating with us. They’ll be showing off their stuff and we’ll provide free transportation between the parking lot and the fields so you don’t have to make a long drive back and forth.”
There will be a “variety show” that combines musical and comedic entertainment, she said.
All activities are free, but food will be available for purchase, including a Kona Ice shave ice truck, a taco truck and a booth set up by band supporters from Koahula Creek High School that will offer burgers and hot dogs at “reasonable prices,” Turner said.
“We try to make it affordable for everyone,” she said, “and the benefit is that because it takes place in a city park, if attendees want to bring their own cooler (no alcohol, of course), they can bring that or buy a pizza and bring it in while they enjoy the show.”
Tents will be set up with tables and chairs, and Turner said attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets.
The event will recognize long-time residents who have lived in Varnell.
“We’ll have our Burnell Day honoree (Harvey Leanne Rollins) and I think she’s one of the longest-time residents here,” Turner said. “We’ll present her with a bouquet of flowers and a little sash as a keepsake and we’ll talk about how long she’s lived in Burnell and her experiences.”
Plans and renderings for the nearby Clyde Williams Pavilion are expected to be released.
“It’s going to be a large pavilion with restrooms and a small stage where bands can play,” Turner said. “It’s going to be built right off the field where we’ll be holding the events.”
The pavilion is named after former city councilman Clyde Williams, who passed away in 2023.
Turner said Varnell Day is a celebration of “our small, close-knit community.”
“We held it for the first time last year and plan to do it every year,” she said. “We’re hoping it will be bigger this year. We had about 250 to 300 people attend last year and we’re hoping for at least that many this year and maybe even a few more. We want everyone to come. We think it’s a community-building event and it brings us all together.”
