Labor Day is the un-official start of country fair and festival season. Powers Crossroads Country Fair and Art Festival, held in Coweta County on the three-day weekend, is celebrating its 40^th anniversary. The festival is held under the trees of the Powers Family Plantation and includes over a hundred juried exhibitors from around the country.

It is not the oldest festival in the state nor is it the largest, but it’s a very popular one.  The acceptance committee has always taken pride in choosing really good vendors. You won’t see booths and booths of the same thing here as you do at many festivals. But you will see toys, furniture, paintings, pottery, fiber and other media, sculptures and some historic exhibits, including basket weaving, blacksmith and Al Lewis collection of horse-drawn carriages. There are children’s activities as well, so give them their allowance and bring ‘em along. For the most part, the paths through the area are firm and will accommodate strollers nicely. But leave your dog at home in the air-conditioning.

And, oh my, the food.  Local churches and other civic groups bring out their best cooks on this weekend and there’s a wide variety of things to eat. Many years ago, as a newly-on-my-own adult, I discovered at one of the booths that I actually liked black-eyed peas, corn and tomatoes. I grew up in a suburb, so this was my first experience watching a mule go round and round as it ground sugar cane to create syrup. There’s a large covered picnic area and tables are also set up by the stage so you can enjoy your barbeque or ice cream while you listen to the music, which will include country, gospel, folk and contemporary. The shady tables go first obviously. One year (and this is hard to imagine with the summer we’ve had) it was actually cool and rainy on Labor Day and the country store was offering warm hot cider. 

Entrance is just $7 and parking is free. A number of civic organizations in the community have combined forces to accommodate the crowds. The pasture parking is well organized and there’s even a group that will help you carry your new items out to the car if you need it. Take I-85 towards Newnan and follow the signs.