Over 50 residents, city employees and elected officials met September 3 to begin planning Marietta's 175th year-long anniversary celebration in 2009.
Watch the planning meeting video
"We want Marietta's 175th anniversary to be one of the best years the city has ever had," Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway said. "The Council, city staff and I decided we don't want just one single event or a series of events on the Square," Dunaway said. "We would like to have a year-long celebration, not just on the Square, but all over town and want to get as many churches, groups and people involved as possible because a lot has happened in 175 years."
Marietta's 175th anniversary will be very informative and a lot of fun, city councilmember Holly Walquist said. "We have so many great assets in Marietta, including a great business community, great residents and a great historical community and we want everyone to get as involved as they possibly can."
"Marietta has so many things to be proud of and so many people to be thankful for," city manager Bill Bruton said. "A lot of times we really don't sit back and think about all the great things we have as a community. Marietta's 175th anniversary will celebrate every organization, people who were here in the past, people who are here now, the people who will be leading in the future and the youth we have here in Marietta."
Steering committee
A steering committee will work on fundraising, publicity and organization for Marietta's 175th anniversary, Bruton said. "The steering committee will make sure there is enough money to advertize events properly and make sure events are spread out over the year." The steering committee will work together with subcommittees on the overall organization of Marietta's 175th anniversary, Bruton said.
Subcommittees
Volunteers will serve on seven subcommittees, representing the Marietta community, Bruton said.
- Business community
- Culture community
- Education community
- Government community
- History community
- Neighborhood/Civic community
- Religious community
The subcommittees will work together with their chairperson to compile a list of events, which will then be submitted to the steering committee for approval, Bruton said. "The steering committee will review the list with other committees we have and make sure there is separation, so events are not on top of each other. The steering committee will put the 175th brand on events that do fit and begin advertizing them," Bruton said.
"Events currently on the books will celebrate Marietta's 175th anniversary, and events will take place all year long," Bruton said. "The parade we have on July 4 will be a 175th anniversary celebration parade. We want organizations to get together not only to celebrate the community, but what their organization does to make Marietta such a great community," Bruton said.
"We want this to be the biggest celebration in terms of length, the number of people and the number of activities," Bruton said.
"Marietta's 175th anniversary is going to be a fun year, and the city has a lot of positive things to focus on," Bruton said. "It will let other people in the Metro area, Cobb County and the state of Georgia know that Marietta is a great place."
Register online to volunteer or call 770-794-5508 for more information.