Snellville Days Festival

The Snellville Days Festival is a two day event held annually in Snellville, Georgia that draws crowds from all over the Southeast. The annual celebration is touted as one of the top 20 tourism events in May according to the Southeastern Tourism Society, but still holds that small town flavor. Snellville Days was voted "Best of Gwinnett" in 2012.

The first Snellville Days festival, held in 1974, was originally planned and organized by Jean Braley and the Morales as a one time event to help raise funds to develop T. W. Briscoe Park as a community gathering place but city officials found the response to be so overwhelming that they decided to make it an annual event. The two day event has since grown to become one of the greatest craft and community festivals in the Atlanta area. The old parade route followed U. S. Hwy. 78, but was changed in more recent years due to increased traffic volume. The route went down Wisteria Drive from US 78, left on North Road, then left on Oak Road, ending at City Hall. In earlier years, the parade had grown so much that it lasted two hours; the parade has since purposefully been reduced to approximately an hour. The last Snellville Days Parade was 2015. There has been no festival since 2020 caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Planning and execution of the event is a year long process undertaken by the city staff, the Snellville Days Committee, and a number of volunteers.

Festivities following the opening ceremonies once consisted of simple games such as dunking booths and local crafts and entertainment but have been greatly expanded to include hand made arts and crafts from almost 100 vendors, live entertainment, food booths, a children's activity area, and beginning in 2006, a museum sponsored by the Snellville Historical Society. Sponsors and vendors have contributed to the success of the festival; along with numerous volunteers and staff.

Year Theme Grand Marshal 1974 Snellville Day Festival first held as one time event to raise money for improvements to Briscoe Park Thomas W. Briscoe former Snellville Mayor 1975 Pride in America Ludlow Porch radio talk show host and author 1976 Snellville Salutes America Lt. Governor Zell Miller 1977 Fun & Fantasy U. S. Senator Sam Nunn 1978 Snellville Salutes the 50s Vince Dooley Head Football Coach at the University of Georgia 1979 Walt Disney Theme Ross and Wilson Atlanta radio DJ's 1980 Salute to the American Cowboy Clayton Moore The Lone Ranger 1981 Snellville Country and Proud of It! Jerry Clower Country Comedian 1982 Everybody is Somebody in Snellville Sorrell Brooke Boss Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard 1983 Everybody is Somebody in Snellville George Lindsey Goober on The Andy Griffith Show 1984 Everybody is Somebody in Snellville Winning Stories Tom T. Hall "The Story Teller" Country Music Singer 1985 A Salute to American Heroes Steve Lundquist Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer 1986 The Pride is Back Bill Curry Head Football Coach at Georgia Tech 1987 Snellville Salutes our Youth Michael Damian actor on The Young and the Restless 1988 Southern Charm Charlie Daniels Country Music Singer 1989 Through the Years The Creel Sisters known for their role in Parent Trap III 1990 Let Freedom Ring Tom Wopat actor in The Dukes of Hazzard 1991 Georgia on My Mind Melly Meadows official Scarlett O'Hara spokeswoman for United Artists 1992 Visions '92 Kim Hardee Miss Georgia 1991Scott Case Football star for the Atlanta Falcons 1993 Let Us Entertain You Jerry Reed country music singer and actor in Smokey and the Bandit 1994 Snellville Welcomes the World Georgia Governor Zell Miller 1995 Field of Dreams South Gwinnett High School Girls Championship Basketball Team 1996 Snellville Welcomes the World Jason Elam Denver Broncos Placekicker 1997 Beach Party 1996 Brookwood High School AAAA Football Championship Team 1998 Welcome Home 1997 South Gwinnett High School AAAA Girls Fast Pitch Softball Team 1999 Year of the Athlete Lex Luger & Buff Bagwell WCW Wrestlers 2000 Snellville Salutes the American Hero General Raymond G. Davis, USMC 2001 People Coming Together Parkview High School AAAAA Football Championship Team 2002 Our American Spirit Parade Cancelled Due to Rain 2003 Everybody's Somebody in Snellville Celebrating 30 Years of Success David Greene Quarterback for the University of Georgia 2004 Our American Idols Outstanding Representatives in Our Community from the areas of Education, Public Service and Business 2005 A Place to Call Home Families Representing the Foster Parent Program andDiana DeGarmo 2004 American Idol Runner up 2006 Look At Us Now! T. Graham Brown Legendary Country Performer 2007 Welcome To Our Town, Honoring The Past Kathryn Bird Longest Living Snellville Native 2008 A One Time Event That's Lasted 35 Years Vietnam War Veterans; Jim Freeman, Richard Chambers, John Hayes 2009 Today, Tomorrow, Forever Kimberly Gittings 2009 Miss Georgia USA 2010 Community First Celebrating Jimmy & Mary Jane Gresham Mary Jane Gresham and Donna Douglas (The Beverly Hillbillies) 2011 Bringing Families Together Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative MinistryIn 2012 the themes applied to the parade only 2012 Proud to Be Jordan Rager of NBC's "The Voice" 2013 Parade and festival was rained out both days Happy 40th Birthday, Snellville Days Louis Williams Atlanta Hawks 2014 Dreams Do Come True Rennie Curran NFL player 2015 Super Heroes Peyton Greene and Batman (Joseph Moran)