City of Cumming
E-News
November 2022
City Center Presents Final Two Free Community Concerts of 2022
Couldn't make it to the Lob Sobh Amphitheater's inaugural community concert? Not to worry, the City Center and Four Carsons Entertainment will present two more FREE community concerts before cold weather sets in. This Friday, Oct. 28th, The Big Beyond takes the amphitheater stage at 7 p.m. for a high-energy dance party featuring fun hits from the '80s through today!

Then on Friday, Nov. 4th at 7 p.m., The New Royals take over the Lou Sobh Amphitheater with a wide repertoire that includes the best contemporary crowd-pleasers and iconic classics from the '60s through today. Both The Big Beyond and The New Royals are sure to be crowd-pleasers bringing high-energy, up-tempo fun with classics from artists like Bruno Mars, Beyonce, Bon Jovi, Rihanna, Prince, Adele, Stevie Wonder and more!

Both concerts are free admission with free parking, and there will be food trucks and adults beverage vendors on-site at both events (or guests can bring in their own food and non-alcoholic beverages - no outside alcohol, coolers, cans or glass bottles, please!). Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. For more about these and other upcoming City Center events, be sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages @cummingcitycenter!
Annual Veterans Day Ceremony: Friday, Nov. 11th
Join the City of Cumming and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1030 for the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11th at 11 a.m. The event will be held at the Veterans War Memorial (301 Veterans Memorial Blvd.), next door to the Cumming Police Department. (Rain location is the Cumming Fairgrounds covered arena.) Please park in the Castleberry Parking Deck or at the Cumming Fairgrounds, and leave spots at the Cumming Police Department open for those with mobility issues. This event is free and open to the entire community. Come help us celebrate all our nation's heroes!
City Center Winter Market & Holiday Event: Nov. 19th
The Cumming City Center will offer its Winter Pop-Up Market, presented by Pieces & Peaches, on Saturday, Nov. 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come shop tons of beautifully curated and handcrafted items for all your holiday gift needs! There will also be photos with Santa all day and the Center's giant Christmas tree will be officially lit for the first time during a special holiday event beginning at 6:30 p.m.! Live Christmas music will be presented by event-sponsor Browns Bridge Community Church from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Cumming Farmers Market will also be held as it is every Saturday, but with limited hours from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. due to the Winter Pop-Up Market. Come join the Cumming City Center for all the holiday fun on Saturday, Nov. 19th!
Cumming Fairgrounds November Events: Steam & Gas Engine Expo, New BBQ Event
Two fun events are slated for the Cumming Fairgrounds this November. The 21st Annual Steam, Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Expo returns to the Cumming Fairgrounds on Nov. 11th and Nov. 12th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Presented by the Cumming Antique Power Association, the expo features dozens of antique and modern tractors and other agricultural and heavy equipment vehicles, as well as vendors and demonstrations.

The Atlanta BBQ Store Classic, a new barbecue event, will be held at the Fairgrounds on Nov. 18th and 19th. More than 80 competition BBQ teams from the nation will compete over the two days, and the public is invited to attend on Saturday, Nov. 19th from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vendors, food trucks, kids' activities, and peek into the competitive barbecue world with be available for the public to enjoy. Admission and parking are free; canned food and Toys for Tots donations will be collected and event proceeds will benefit the Northeast Georgia Foodbank, a Feeding America organization.
Register Now for City of Cumming Christmas Parade & Fairgrounds Festival
It's that time of year again - time to get ready for the holiday season! That means it's also time to register to participate in the City of Cumming's 5th Annual Christmas Parade & Fairgrounds Festival, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3rd beginning at 5 p.m.! Any business, church, school group, charitable organization, Scout troop, etc. wishing to be in this year's Christmas Parade must complete this form and return it to cledford@cityofcumming.net by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28th. Any group wishing to participate in the Christmas Festival at the Fairgrounds must contact the Fairgrounds staff at 770-781-3491.
Cumming Home Water Tower Lighting Requests
Due to the high volume of requests to light the ‘Cumming Home’ Water Tower at GA Hwy. 400 Exit 14 various colors for different causes throughout the year, Cumming Utilities and City of Cumming staff have made the decision to implement a formal application process beginning with calendar year 2023.

Any charitable organization wishing to have the tower lit a certain color(s) for a specific cause during any month in calendar year 2023, must complete this form and email it to cledford@cityofcumming.net before 5 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2022.
City Council Honors Long-Term Care Residents, Family Promise, Native Americans
During the October Work Session and Regular City Council Meeting, City Council took the following actions:

  • Presented three proclamations: Declared October as Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month, which honors the rights of individuals who reside in long-term care facilities such as assisted living and nursing homes; declared the week of Oct. 23rd to 29th as Family Promise Week in the City of Cumming in honor of the sixth anniversary of Family Promise of Forsyth, which partners with churches and other non-profit organizations to help families facing homelessness; and declared the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month, honoring the history and culture of America's indigenous populations. Additionally, during the October regular meeting, Mayor and Council welcomed Pack 207 Arrow of Light Scouts who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

  • Adopted the City of Cumming's 2022 Five-Year Comprehensive Plan Update and the Capital Improvements Element of the Comprehensive Plan after having met all requirements from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Atlanta Regional Commission.

  • Approved, in a 4-1 vote with Councilwoman Linda Ledbetter opposed, an impact fee agreement with Providence Group of Georgia, LLC stating road impact fees for the Sawnee Village development will be paid upfront and applied toward construction of an extension of Sawnee Drive.

  • Accepted the low proposal from F.S. Scarborough, LLC for a Cumming Utilities Sewer multi-stage project which will be funded by the Forsyth County Board of Education and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

  • Accepted the low proposal from Clark for upgrades to the audio-visual system in the Council Chambers. The current system was installed when City Hall was built in 2002.

  • Approved renewal of the Contract for Probation Supervision and Rehabilitation Services with Georgia Probation Management.

  • Were presented with drafts of Design Review Guidelines and documents concerning a Short-Term Rental Ordinance for review only. No action was taken on either of these items and they will be discussed again at a future meeting.

  • Accepted the low proposal from Sol Construction, LLC for a booster station and elevated water storage tank on Lanier 400 Parkway. A portion of the costs of this project will be collected via water meter fees from the developer of Sawnee Villages East for townhomes along the ridgeline.
SAA Christmas Event at Lanier Tech
The Sawnee Association of the Arts (SAA) will present its annual Christmas Festival at the Lanier Tech Forsyth Conference Center (3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd.) on Saturday, Nov. 12th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 13th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come out for the 19th annual event featuring more than 100 vendors selling original, handcrafted items. Among the unique gift items are paintings, drawings, mixed media, woodworking, glass, ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, food items, and more. Additionally, kids are invited to stop by the Elf Corner Gift Shop, where only children are allowed to shop and "elves" help them pick out and gift wrap great items for family and friends. Photos with Santa will also be available, as well as the Festival of Trees, in which patrons can purchase four-foot trees decorated by local artists. After the Christmas Festival concludes, patrons can check out the Festival of Trees at the Downtown Arts Center (111 Pilgrim Mill Road) through the end of the year. Click here to learn more!
Holiday Closure: Nov. 24th & 25th
All non-essential City of Cumming departments and facilities will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 24th and Friday, Nov. 25th. City facilities will resume normal business hours on Monday, Nov. 28th.

We wish everyone a safe and blessed Thanksgiving holiday weekend!
MEETINGS
Youth Council - November 1 at 5 p.m.

City Council Work Session - November 1 at 6 p.m.

Planning & Zoning Board Meeting - November 15 at 5 p.m.

Regular City Council Meeting - November 15 at 6 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance.
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