The Big Event, presented this past Saturday by the Lake Oconee Area Builders Association (LOABA), enjoyed clear skies with warm weather and great attendance at Lake Oconee Village alongside Vista Drive, south of Greensboro.
It represented a very welcome change from the cold, soggy conditions that last year’s Big Event soldiered through.
With more than 180 onsite vendors, a reported increase of more than 30 over last year’s vendor count, there was no shortage of things to see, do, or experience.
From dog sitting to baked goods to home building to boat sales and anything in between, there was no shortage of options for the thousands of visitors to the free, wide-ranging trade show.
Appetites were satisfied at a busy outdoor food court, where several food trucks and trailers from Chick-fil-A, Southern Smoke Shack, Island Chef, Queen Churro, Kona Ice, Dough Daddy Dough, Five Finger Philly, and Farmers Funnel Cakes remained open throughout the event. Additionally, several Big Event vendors provided or sold snacks and soft drinks from their booths.
A D.J. kept the music going in between live shows that started with the Lake Country Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol presenting the nation’s colors while a children’s choir sang the national anthem. Later, several local youth groups and acts performed, including Saltamacchio Karate, which presented students going through offensive and defensive routines, as well as breaking boards with bare hands.
Young performers from The Arts Barn in Eatonton also were on stage and a clogging demonstration by Sole Momentum students closed out the live show shortly before 4 p.m.