AMERICUS — The Beaver Creek Festival is Montezuma's annual heritage observation. It was first celebrated in 1994. to commemorate the spirit of courage that has revived downtown from disasters since the late 1800s. Although there are stories referencing a flood in 1897, the earliest recorded disaster was in 1902, when the Flint River crested at 25 ft. The levee was built to retain Beaver Creek following the 1948 flooding of the business district. In 1958, the levee was engineered three feet above 1929’s 26.3-ft. record, but it was no match for 1994’s 30-ft. crest which poured Beaver Creek into downtown's historic buildings.

Initially called the “Flood Festival,” it was established by the Montezuma Merchants Association when the “Flood of the Century” receded and left waterlogged stores and ruined inventory. The festival was launched to help raise capital to support the rehabilitation of historic downtown and the Railroad Depot. The annual celebration is held in Charlie Jackson Unity Park — a once thriving city block reduced to rubble by fire. A volunteer squad cleared the ashes and had a stage, arbors, a wall of fame and a phoenix fountain installed. The fountain and park symbolize the community's commitment to historic preservation and revitalization. The Historical Society members will be serving as volunteer docents at the Macon County Historical Museum to emphasize the flood exhibit throughout the festival.

Over 3,000 visitors and citizens attend the festival each year and raise funds to help preserve the cultural resources and heritage that keep downtown strong. The Beaver Creek Festival features a free children's costume parade for ages 3-12 with prizes for costumes: most creative, most original, and best children’s book character. An all-ages pet parade will offer gift certificates for the Macon County Veterinary Clinic for the best dressed pet, most unusual pet and the best "wins,“ with the owner and the pet dressed alike. A highlight of the festival is the "Duck Doodle" contest, which involves guessing which numbered square a live duck will anoint with a special deposit to award a $300 cash prize!

A new feature of the 15th Beaver Creek Festival is a carnival game alley hosted by the Montezuma Downtown Development Authority, the Montezuma Public Library, the Montezuma Water Department and the Citizen and Georgian newspaper. Games include pin the tail on Monte Beaver, Monte Beaver Bull’s-eye, a Lucky Duck Pond, Woodland Spider Piñata, soda bottle ring toss, Test Your Water Wisdom, marshmallow gun target tag, cupcake walk, and many other fun activities. Children will be entertained for hours and will win many fun and festive prizes.

In the Gladys Hair Street Park, Kauffman’s Farmarket will be offering cow train rides, which is sure to provide wonderful photo opportunities for parents. The Montezuma United Methodist Church will be hosting a welcome booth and offering a beaver bean toss game for children. Grand Illusionment will be offering spaceball, basketball toss and other carnival games while Allied Amusements will feature a “Strangest Things Exhibit.” Children, teenagers and the young at heart will enjoy having their face and body airbrush painted.

Flint River Farm School Preservation Society, Oglethorpe Church Of Christ, RSM Medicare, the U.S. Census Bureau, United Hospice of Cordele, Flint River Hospital, Miona Nursing Home, Adventist Community Services/South Georgia, Veterans of Foreign Wars , Macon County Forestry Pageant and the Macon County Historical Society are all sponsoring informational and community service exhibits.

Vendors will be filling downtown Montezuma with a “Fair Aroma” and serving up Papa’s Pizza, funnel cakes, cotton candy chicken strips baskets, Philly beef subs, chicken Philly subs, barbecue sandwiches, nachos, taco cups, elephant ears, fried pickles, corn dogs, potato chips on a stick, baked goods, fish, homemade jellies and jams, fried peanuts, fried pork rinds, fried pecans, turkey legs, ribs, chicken, soul food and boiled peanuts.

Christmas shoppers will find many one-of-a-kind gifts from the artists and crafters displaying their wares. Exhibits will include unique mixed media paintings, oil and acrylic paintings, Christmas craft quilted greeting cards, ornaments and handmade wreaths, Dexnet Hair Care products, marshmallow guns, T-shirts, cops and military Items, vinyl for shirts and cars, doggie shirts, purses, baby things, dog coats, check book covers, pillows, Christmas stockings, blankets, handbags, decorative woodwork cut with a scroll saw, decorated gourds, hand-built and wheel-thrown pottery (including handmade Nativity sets), Pampered Chef products, beaded jewelry, handmade quilts, hand knitted scarves and hats, fleece tie blankets, prints, florals, dishes, candles, home décor, custom crafted jewelry, home accessories, paintings, photographs, Cookie Lee jewelry, tinder key purse, Miche bags, popcorn shirts, hair painting, sand art, halos, necklaces, dream catchers, children’s novelties, bowls, birdhouses, pin cushions , yard decorations, tea kettle wind chimes, recycled flat ware gifts, southwest jewelry, and natural organic products for the body.

The Box Raffle will be offering an amazing array of merchandise donated by Macon County’s many fine merchants and service providers. Donations include Advanced Auto Parts’ Case of Motor Oil; BB&T; Bank’s $100 Savings Bond; Badcock Furniture’s six-piece kitchen utensils; Barker’s Market’s $25 gift certificate; Ben Haugabook, CPA’s $25 Macon County Dollars; Betsy’s Flower Shop’s $25 gift certificate; Casa Maya Mexican Restaurant’s family dinner ($30 Value); Charm Carter’s dog grooming (30 lbs. and under); Citizen & Georgian’s two one-year subscriptions; Clip Chix’s hair care products; Cole Agency’s $200 Macon County Dollars; Connie Perdue’s custom Christmas wreath; Easterlin Pecan’s $50 Macon County Dollars; Farmer’s Furniture’s $50 gift certificate; Fred’s $50 gift certificate; Jon Coogle, P.C.’s $40 Macon County Dollars; Jones’ Grocery’s country cured ham; Liggin Finance’s $25 Macon County Dollars; G. Leonard Liggin, PC’s $100 Macon County Dollars; Macon County Veterinary Clinic’s $50 gift certificate; Montezuma Drug Company’s $50 gift certificate; NAPA Auto Parts’ $50 gift certificate; Oglethorpe Barbeque’s family dinner ($30 Value); Oglethorpe Hardware’s $25 gift certificate; Piggly Wiggly’s $50 gift certificate; Papa’s Pizza’s family feast; RBC Bank’s $100 Savings Bond; Red Bottom Turf’s pallet of sod; Sidney & Yvonne Moore’s $100 Macon County Dollars; Simply Gladis’ $25 gift certificate; Sydney’s Dollhouse’s $25 gift certificate; The McKenzie Agency’s $50 Macon County Dollars; Travelers Rest Bed & Breakfasts’ book with certificate for a buy one night, get one night free; Trunk Sales Inc.’s $50 gift certificate; and Macon County Historical Museum’s Phoebe DeVaughn prints (Our Town, Peaches and the Country Club). Box Raffle proceeds will be used to support improvements in Downtown Montezuma.

The grand finale is a duck race fundraiser hosted by the Chamber of Commerce to rekindle the spirit of revival required to recover from disaster. A flock of colorful ducks will be launched by the Montezuma Fire Department into Beaver Creek at 2:45 p.m. to race downstream to the finish line at the North Dooly Street Bridge. Spectators can cheer the ducks on from the walking trail on the levee. The first duck to cross the finish line earns $1,015, while the next nine contestants are awarded many valuable prizes. The last duck out of the creek gets a consolation prize of $115. The race is emceed by WMAZ Channel 13's popular news anchor, Duck Master Frank Malloy. Proceeds of the duck race fund scholarships for Macon County High School graduates.

The Montezuma Downtown Development Authority will be exhibiting a special promotion on rebuilding the local economy by buying Christmas gifts from at least three locally owned businesses. The 3/50 Project is a grassroots movement to save the bricks and mortar business our nation and town are built on. The concept of The 3/50 Project is for half of the employed workers in the community to pick their three favorite local merchants and spend at least $50 between them each month. The result can be a local economic impact of as much as $42.6 million. (Source: www.the350project.net).

For every $100 spent in a locally owned business, $68 remains in the community in the form of taxes, payroll and other expenditures. For every $100 spent at a national chain, only $48 remains at home, while nothing is returned to the local economy for online purchases. If three-quarters of Macon County shoppers limit their out-of-town purchases, all four downtowns will enjoy a strong enough customer base to support many new merchants and local job opportunities. Stop by the DDA booth in the Carnival Game Alley to find out how your spending habits can rebuild your own hometown. Flood downtown Montezuma with money for local purchases by visiting the sidewalk sales of local merchants during the 15th Beaver Creek Festival!