Roswell Youth Day Celebration Set For Oct. 8

ROSWELL, GA -- The Roswell community is invited to come out and celebrate the city's youngest residents during the 66th Annual Frances McGahee Youth Day Celebration.

The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8. Festivities will start at 10 a.m. with the annual parade, which will begin at First Baptist Church on Mimosa Boulevard and end in Roswell Area Park on Woodstock Road.

This year’s theme is “Everybody Plays.”

Immediately preceding the start of the parade at 9:45 a.m. will be the 20th Annual Historic Roswell 5K Road Race will begin. The race, which benefits the Friends of the Roswell Parks’ Play It Forward Program, starts at the Roswell United Methodist Church and ends at the Roswell Area Park football field.

• To register, visit www.active.com or contact Susan Silver at 770-817-6670.

Following the parade, be sure to drop by Roswell Area Park to test your skills in the Fun Fitness Challenge. All parade participants can take part in running through the large inflatable obstacle courses. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Also after the parade, Smith Plantation will be hosting Fall Farm Days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This annual family event will feature artisan exhibits and demonstrations pertaining to life on a 19th-century farm, including living-history exhibits and activities such as period games, spinning, weaving and open-hearth cooking.

Free children’s activities include period games, farm animals petting zoo, wagon rides, crafts, farm chores. In addition, gold and gem panning is available for $5.

Youth Day has been a long-standing tradition in Roswell that began in 1950 when a group of parents decided to sponsor a parade and a day of activities to honor the youth of the city.

In 1951, Mayor Ford Rucker proclaimed the second Saturday in October as "Roswell Youth Day," and each year the tradition grows stronger within the community.

If you or your group would like to participate, please download an application or call the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs Department at 770-641-3705.

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