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October 4, 2026

Summerville Mini Renaissance Festival Returns To Dowdy Park October 10

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Chivalry, costumes, entertainment and a little bit of medieval fun will return to Summerville next Saturday with the 2026 Summerville Mini Renaissance Festival.

The festival will be held Saturday, October 10, from 11 AM until 5 PM at Dowdy Park and is being presented by the City of Summerville.

Organizers describe the event as offering “chivalry, romance, and a rollicking good time,” with activities designed for visitors of all ages.

The festival will feature live entertainment, shopping, art, games and food, along with characters and costumes that bring a Renaissance atmosphere to downtown Summerville. Admission to the festival is free, and visitors are encouraged to come dressed in character if they would like to take part in the fun.

Another attraction during the day will be the arrival of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum steam engine. The train’s visit will include activity at the Summerville Turntable at 1 PM, adding another attraction for visitors attending the festival.

The annual event is centered around the Summerville Depot and Dowdy Park area and combines the city’s railroad heritage with a day of Renaissance-themed activities.

The 2026 Summerville Mini Renaissance Festival gets underway at 11 AM Saturday, October 10, and continues until 5 PM.

October 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sum Nelly Moves Downtown Today; New Harvest Festival Planned For November

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The 52nd annual Sum Nelly Festival is taking place today, but visitors will find some significant changes because of concerns about the weekend weather.

October 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sum Nelly Still On For Saturday; Summerville Adds November Harvest Festival For Vendors

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The 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival will still go on as planned this Saturday, but the City of Summerville is now offering vendors an additional fall festival opportunity in November.

Summerville Parks and Recreation Director Adam Wilson announced Thursday that the city is organizing a new Summerville Harvest Festival for Saturday, November 7, from 9 AM until 5 PM at Dowdy Park.

Wilson said vendors who are already registered for this weekend’s Sum Nelly Festival will be able to participate in the November event free of charge.

That means vendors who have already paid for a Sum Nelly space can set up for both events — this Saturday’s Sum Nelly Festival and the November 7 Summerville Harvest Festival — without paying another vendor registration fee for the November event.

Registration for the Summerville Harvest Festival will open Monday, October 5, at www.summervillerec.org.

Meanwhile, the city says Sum Nelly will still be held this Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM until 3 PM on East Washington Street in downtown Summerville.

The festival was moved from Dowdy Park and its hours shortened because of weather concerns.

Wilson also said the Sum Nelly vendor map will be released Thursday.

The announcement comes as some Sum Nelly vendors have been circulating a petition asking that this weekend’s festival be postponed because of concerns about rain, possible flooding, attendance and the financial investment vendors have already made in the event.

For now, the city is keeping Sum Nelly on Saturday’s schedule while also giving registered vendors a second opportunity to participate in a fall festival at Dowdy Park next month.

October 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sum Nelly Vendors Start Petition Asking For Festival To Be Postponed

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Some vendors scheduled to participate in this weekend’s 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival have started an online petition asking Summerville Parks and Recreation to postpone the event because of concerns about anticipated rain and the possibility of flooding.

September 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival Returns To Summerville October 3

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One of Chattooga County’s longest-running fall traditions returns next month as the 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival takes over Dowdy Park on Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM until 7 PM.

September 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Council Faces Packed Agenda This Evening

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The Summerville City Council will have a lengthy agenda in front of it this evening, with matters ranging from road resurfacing and recreation improvements to a proposed data center moratorium, the sale of kratom and the possible renaming of one of the city’s best-known historic landmarks.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival Coming To Summerville

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One of Chattooga County’s longest-running fall traditions will return next month when Summerville hosts the 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Arts & Crafts Festival.

August 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Yard Sale In Dowdy Park Begins Tomorrow As Part Of Highway 27 Yard Sale

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Dowdy Park will once again serve as a participating site for the annual Highway 27 Yard Sale beginning tomorrow.

The three-day event will run from Thursday, August 6, through Saturday, August 8, and is expected to bring bargain hunters and travelers through Summerville in search of antiques, collectibles, household goods and other secondhand treasures.

The Highway 27 Yard Sale began in Northwest Georgia in the late 1990s as an alternative route for travelers who became lost while attending another large yard sale. Since then, it has grown into a popular regional event that attracts visitors from well beyond its original route.

As part of this year’s sale, Summerville Main Street is sponsoring Yard Sale in the Park at Dowdy Park. Local residents can rent vendor space to sell unwanted items, handmade crafts and other merchandise during the event.

Vendor spaces are available for $5 per space, per day and must be reserved in advance through Summerville City Hall. Spaces will be assigned before setup.

Yard Sale in the Park will be open each day from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Food vendors will also be on-site offering refreshments.

Visitors are encouraged to explore downtown Summerville, where several local businesses will offer sidewalk sales and special promotions during the event.

Admission is free.

August 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Vendor Registration Now Open For 2026 Sum Nelly Festival

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Vendor registration is now underway for the 2026 Sum Nelly Festival, one of Summerville’s longest-running community traditions.

The festival will be held on Saturday, October 3, beginning at 9 a.m. at Dowdy Park. Organizers are accepting applications through September 30 for a variety of vendor categories.

Food vendors can register for $75, while specialty treats, drinks, and snack vendors—including baked goods, jellies, jams, popcorn, ice cream, specialty beverages, lemonade, and shaved ice—can register for $60.

Arts and crafts vendors may register for $50. This category includes handmade or original products such as jewelry, woodworking, pottery, ceramics, photography, soaps, candles, quilts, leather goods, metal or glass art, custom home décor, and seasonal crafts.

The Sum Nelly Festival has been a beloved Summerville tradition for more than 50 years, drawing residents and visitors for a day of food, shopping, entertainment, and community activities.

Vendor applications are available online at www.summervillerec.org.

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Steam Locomotive Rolls Into Summerville Today As International Model Railroad Convention Visits Region

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Rail fans will have a rare opportunity today as a historic steam locomotive arrives in downtown Summerville as part of the 2026 National Model Railroad Association Convention, being held this week in Chattanooga.