23 years ago, I wrote this publisher’s note:
On Saturday, November 18, 1995, East Cobb residents will have their very own parade and festival- the EAST COBBER Community Parade and Festival. This is an historic event for East Cobb County and its residents. There has never been a parade of this magnitude in East Cobb County and I don’t think both sides of Johnson Ferry Road have ever been shut down! Accordingly, this edition of the East Cobber commemorates and celebrates this special occasion. All the articles and information contained herein relates to this very special event.
To date, there are 52 groups and 1,000 people signed up to march in the parade; 42 nonprofits and small businesses have reserved space to exhibit at the festival, and more than 200 talented individuals/20 acts have been scheduled to perform throughout the day. As you will soon discover, the EAST COBBER lists all the parade participants, festival exhibitors, and corporate sponsors not only to memorialize these “firsts” but also to ensure that parade watchers and festival goers get the most out of this very happy day! After reading through all the people that will be participating in the parade and all the groups exhibiting at the Festival, and after reviewing all the performers scheduled to entertain throughout the day you won’t want to miss this very special day. I don’t want to miss this special day!
It’s important to note that just about everyone involved in this parade is from East Cobb County, Once again, I am grateful for and proud of my fellow East Cobbers from the PTA presidents that lobbied for their school to get involved, to all the different groups and their leaders who stepped forward to be a part of this new event, to all the good citizens and business people who volunteered their valuable time to take on menial tasks. And finally, I might have had the idea, but this special event would not have come to fruition without the local businesses that cared enough to underwrite my dream.
During many conversations, I would mention there was going to be a parade right her in East Cobb, and without fail that person would share a memory of a parade when they were growing up or when they lived somewhere else. That’s what November 18 is all about: creating memories- special memories for our children as well as for the child in all of us. The EAST COBBER Community Parade & Festival will be one of those rare moments when we are all reminded that there can be joy in this world and reassured that such caring and talented people are right here in our neighborhood.
Since that letter was written 23 years ago, we’ve since changed the parade to an earlier fall date—the third Saturday in September. We now have 120 parade entries with 2,000+ people signed up to march, and 100+ booths reserved at this year’s festival. While it has been a wild ride managing the growth of this hometown tradition, my feelings have not changed. I am so grateful for the many people that come out to help me organize this special event, to the presenting sponsor, WellStar, and corporate sponsors, Snappy Services and Custom Disposal as well as all the small businesses for providing financial support to make special memories for our neighbors and friends. The EAST COBBER annual Parade and Festival allows our East Cobb community to slow down a little bit and stand side by side with our neighbors-whether you are in the parade or watching as each unit goes by. I believe this parade builds a sense of community, where people get to know each other a little bit better, gives us a reason to smile, and we can celebrate our commonalities rather than focus on our differences—something that is sorely needed these days.
I will never tire of seeing the smiling faces of the kids and teachers alike, waving and throwing candy along the parade route! This happy day reminds me (and I hope, for you, the reader) what a wonderful community East Cobb continues to be after all these years!!
Wishing everyone a wonderful day of good food, good company, and good fun!
Cynthia M. Rozzo
Founder | Publisher
cynthia@eastcobber.com
This article originally appeared in the September issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 4. Click here to view the digital edition.
