Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash

By Glynis Crawford Smitih

The Highlander

At least 2,000 guests joined in the festival celebrating the anniversary of the City of Granite Shoals on Friday and Saturday, April 23-24. 

Evelyn Turner, 99, was the honored guest to blow out the birthday candle for the Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash opening Saturday. She and her husband bought land on Belaire East Drive in 1963 and they built the house she shares with her son now in 1980 and she still is active in Granite Shoals First Baptist Church.

At the Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash, runners began signing in at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 23, and took to the Leo Manazano Hike Bike and Run Trail with its Olympic silver medalist namesake at 9 a.m. By mid-day an estimated 2,000 visitors were coming and going among exhibits, games and musical performances.

The Highland Lakes Elementary School (HLES) Choir performed at opening ceremonies that ended with a 10 a.m. release of hundreds of ballons in the city's signature green and blue colors. Art of HLES student art created the appearance of stained glass in city hall windows.

The entire staff of the City of Granite Shoals has worked toward the 50th Year Bash that takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and April 24, but Finance Director Wendy Gholson has been the staff lisison to the 50th Anniversary Committee, and responsible particularly for coordinating more than 40 booths of crafts and food for the event.

She is part of a seven-member administrative staff you will meet at the weekend festivities.