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VALLEY – The weather was good for the most part, and those who came out seemed to enjoy being at this past weekend’s ValleyFest on the big parking lot at Valley Sportsplex. There were lots and lots of food trucks, live entertainment from a large stage and a much-traveled comedy and magic act.

The event was organized by The Valley Local. This small non-profit organization aims to bridge the gap between small businesses and local consumers while building a pillar the local community can rely on.

The Valley Local will be following up Saturday’s event with two planned activities in Lanett in June. From 3 to 6:30 P.M. EDT on June 8, there will be a Festival on the Square in the downtown area. There will be food trucks, Bingo and entertainment for all ages provided by the Army National Guard. On Saturday, June 21, The Valley Local will be providing an opportunity to shop for fresh produce at a Farmers Market on North Lanier Avenue. It will be open from 9 A.M. until noon.

Performing from the stage this past weekend were Corey Smith, Blaine Rudd, Marde Brooks, Poison Whiskey, Wicked Dixie, Nick Mayfield, Mack Ray Keaton, The Grey, Caylee Fucci, 2 Dogs and Friends and the Sally Brown Band.

People of all ages enjoyed stopping by to see Doc’s Magic Show, “where the beard is more fun than the show.”

Doc told people coming by to see the show that he’d done magic tricks and comedy all over the world but this was the closest he’d done a show to his hometown of Auburn, Alabama, and that it was special to him for that reason.

One of his magic tricks started with one bottle of ketchup on the table but ended up with six of them. Another skit centered around a large number of yellow balls that seemed to come from nowhere. Doc had some fun with a hand puppet of a pig who loved the R. Kelly song “I Believe I Can Fly.”

In one skit he fashioned an amazing shape of a dog as “Who Let the Dogs Out?” was playing.

Children from the crowd named Brycelyn, John and James helped him with these acts. The show ended with the pig being “shot” from a cannon approximately 20 feet to a target. When the cannon fired, all that came out was some streamers, but lo and behold, behind the target, the pig amazingly appeared.

Ice-cold lemonade, snow cones and fresh-cooked barbecue were popular items being served from the food trucks. Among those serving were Backwoodz BBQ of Fortson, Georgia, the Lemonade Bar and More, Southern Cajun Homemade Boudin, Pork Sausage, BBQ Sauce & More, Maria’s Cuban Sandwiches, Original Philadelphia Water Ice, Freeze Dried Candy, Really Cool Peanuts, the Coffee Convoy of Carrollton, Georgia, Lickem Lips BBQ, Grandma Val’s Lemonade, Tha Curry Man Bringing Spice to Your Life, Dauro’s Cajun-Style Kitchen, The Pinky Burger Strait Outta LaGrange, Lizzy’s Lemonade and The Sweet Shop of Funnel Cakes, Shaved Ice and Ice Cream.

Jessie Harper of J&C Foods was there cooking chicken wings, fish and Polish sausage. Narfunda Ross and Angela Houston of Team WHIP were there underneath a pink tent talking to people about what they are doing to promote breast cancer awareness.

One of the more interesting stops was at Myles Pike’s tent. He brought his white No. 20 dirt track race car with him. Myles is from the Beulah area and has raced his car on tracks not that far away such as the Senoia Raceway but on tracks as far away as the Carolinas and Indiana. He competes in the Sport Compact Dirt Racing Association (SCDRA).

A kids’ zone was set up on one of the Sportsplex outfields. Many children had lots of fun jumping and playing around on the inflatables. Children also liked stopping by the Heavenly Talents by April booth to get their faces painted.

Just inside the main entrance, the Valley Lions Club had a booth where members of the club were selling items the club is famous for – mops and brooms. The Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) had six motorcycles lined up in a row next to their booth.

Officers from the Valley Police Department were in the area directing people in and out of ValleyFest and offering assistance where it was needed.

Platinum sponsors for ValleyFest 2025 were the City of Valley, Pepsi, Smurfit WestRock, State Rep. Debbie Wood, Knauf and the Hampton Inn by Hilton.

Gold sponsors included the Chambers County Development Authority (CCDA), the Chambers County Commission, Chris Clark Grading & Paving, Kobeck Properties, Chattahoochee Federal Credit Union, Mr. Ice, The Oaks Farm, LynArc Welding Supply, West Fraser, The Valley Thrift Store, Chattahoochee Drone Service and Eagle Roofing.

The Bronze sponsors were Greg Boddie Heating & Air, Valor Strategies, Johnny’s Pizza, Milltown Nutrition, Loopyheart, His Purpose Nutrition, Southern Comfort Casseroles, Terri’s Mill Village Cafe, Chambley’s, Harris Gray, Sass & Class Boutique, Huguley Nutrition, Long Beach Tanning, Fairfax First Baptist Church, AuburnBank, South State Bank, S&S Lawn Care, Elite Academy, ALFA Insurance – Steve Wheeler, Lewminous Skincare & Waxing Studio and Matthew and Jody’s Tree Service.