After more than a year, the wait is almost over for a longtime tradition in the heart of McDonough.

The annual Geranium Festival, sponsored by the McDonough Lions Club, will return to the city’s downtown area July 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thousands of people are expected to gather and interact with a plethora of arts and crafts, food vendors, live music, civic groups and a play area for kids during the event.

Stephanie Spano is the president of the McDonough Junior Women’s Club, which is in its 29th year of making tomato sandwiches for festival-goers.

Spano said the festival is her group’s biggest fundraiser each year, with proceeds going toward numerous organizations in Henry County.

“In recent years, we’ve donated to these great causes: A Friend’s House, Gigi’s House, Haven House, Sacred Journey Hospice, Praying for Paws, The Henry Players, Henry County Humane Society, Helping in His Name Food Pantry, Henry County Cancer Services, Henry County Senior Services, Our World at HOPE Park, Sew Comfy Ministry, and Hangar of Hope for Kinlee, said Spano. “We also participate in community projects, donating money and our time to such organizations as Ferst Foundation, Raise Me Up Foundation, Warm & Toasty Drive, Southern Belle Tent or Treat, and Kindness Works Respite Day.”

She said the MJWC regularly supports numerous charities in Henry County, and that members are constantly on the lookout for causes, “big or small,” to assist in the community.

“Since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we rely heavily on donations, especially for the Geranium Festival,” she said.

In 2019, the MJWC raised $4,500 from the sandwich sales during the festival. This year, the club’s sponsors include Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar McDonough, SCB Video TV Marketing, Fallas Family Vision, Davidson Mick Team, and Uncorked with Brandie Craig, said Spano.

“Each is providing monetary donations to help us defray the costs of running the tomato tent,” she said. “We also have sponsors who donate products. Bimbo Bakeries, USA provides us the Artesano Bread. Grand Gourmet donates the Vidalia onions. This Year, Serendipity is donating 20 aprons with our logo on them.

In the past, the MJWC has sold more than 1,500 sandwiches, which will be available at the festival for $3 each. Drinks will be sold for $1 apiece, and combos — including a sandwich, drink and chips — will be $5 each. Spano said the uniqueness of the club’s sandwiches lies in their ingredients — including fresh tomatoes from Thompson’s Market in McDonough. She said the sandwiches are always a hit with festival attendees.

“Everyone we hear from raves about our sandwiches,” she said. “It’s a tradition. When people mention the McDonough Junior Women’s Club, they say we are the ladies who make the tomato sandwiches. We make the sandwiches fresh to order during the festival. The line of people wraps halfway around the Square.”

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic halted plans for the festival, which has been a fixture in McDonough for more than four decades. Spano said being able to come back to the festival this year “means everything.”

“It’s been slow to get everyone back together,” she said. “We are still working on gaining back our momentum. However, now that everything is opening up and people are feeling better about getting out again, we will be back in full swing very soon. We are also looking to recruit new members who strive to serve Henry County in an ongoing capacity.”

Southern Belle Farm in McDonough will have a number of offerings and activities available as part of the festival, said Kathy Carter. She and her husband Jimmy own the farm, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Jake and Jennifer Carter.

“I have been doing the Geranium Festival a very long time,” said Kathy Carter. “Not sure how many years it has been on the Square. but I have been there every year. I started with funnel cakes and did those for many years.

The Carter family, a few years ago, began offering strawberry shortcake and homemade strawberry ice cream for the festival, which is typically held in May. This year, however, Southern Belle will bring something different, Kathy Carter said.
“This year we will be bringing only our homemade ice cream since the date has been changed to July,” she said. “We do not have fresh strawberries now, so the shortcake is not an option.”

Carter said she and her family love participating in the festival each year, to let people know what Southern Belle Farm has to offer.

“We are so proud for the community support that has grown so much over the years,” she said. “We are so grateful to be able to use our farm for education and build family traditions for many who visit our farm.”

Additional information about the Geranium Festival is available online at https://visitmcdonoughga.com/events-fest ivals/geranium-festival/.