70K Expected at Big Shanty Festival

It will be held April 20-21 in downtown Kennesaw.

The 37th Annual Big Shanty Festival in downtown Kennesaw will take place this year on April 20-21. Co-sponsored by the City of Kennesaw and the Kennesaw Business Association, the festival features more than 200 booths of crafters, artisans, and vendors as well as live entertainment on several stages, children’s activities and more than 30 food booths. Attendance this year is expected to top 70,000 over the two-day event. The festival opens with a parade in downtown Kennesaw on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. featuring local high school bands, colorful floats and over 1,000 young marchers. Admission is free. During the festival, roads in downtown Kennesaw will be closed beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 19. Cherokee Street will be closed from Main…

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Labor Commissioner to Visit Kennesaw

He'll be the keynote speaker at the Kennesaw Business Association Luncheon on Tuesday, then tour Georgia Trade School.

The head of the Georgia Department of Labor will be in Kennesaw next week. Commissioner Mark Butler will be the keynote speaker at the Kennesaw Business Association Luncheon on Tuesday. And immediately after that, he will tour the Georgia Trade School. The KBA Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 12 at the KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Dr. The Georgia Trade School visit is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. the same day. During the tour, Butler will meet with students and staff, and get a first-hand look at how the school is playing a key role in filling the shortage of certified welders. In 2010, there were 337,300 jobs for welders, cutters, solderers and brass workers, according to USA Today. That number is expected to grow 15 percent by 2020. "…

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KBA Business Expo Today

It runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ben Robertson Community Center.

The Kennesaw Business Association is hosting the 2013 Kennesaw Business Expo at Ben Robertson Community Center from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today. Businesses from all over the area are on display to show patrons new products, give away coupons and display what their companies have to offer. Great Harvest Bread Co., J.D.'s Bar-B-Que, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Creations by Cookie, California Dreaming and T&D Sweet Treats will be giving samples of their great food. “The business expo is a great opportunity for developing a community-wide effort to support local businesses that give back to the very community we live in,” said Mike Everhart, president of the Kennesaw Business Association. “Through support of the local businesses KBA has been pleased to …

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Big Shanty Festival Details Announced

It will be held April 20 and 21 in downtown Kennesaw.

KBA Business Expo Set for Feb. 26

Cobb businesses will show off new products, deals, and upcoming releases of future products and promotions at the Kennesaw Business Association's Business Expo.

Mayor to Discuss State of Kennesaw

He will deliver the address at today's Kennesaw Business Association meeting.

Mayor Mark Mathews this morning will deliver his State of the City address at the Kennesaw Business Association's January luncheon. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites, 620 Chastain Rd. NW. Space is limited. Attendees must RSVP and prepay at www.kennesawbusiness.org. KBA requests that guests park behind the hotel in the Town Park office building parking lot. Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Kennesaw Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Are You Ready for the Summer JAM?

The business networking event of the year in Cobb County is July 18.

The annual business event of the year in Cobb County, the Summer Joint Association Meeting (JAM), is set to return July 18 after a successful first year. The Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the county's 12 business associations have united to sponsor the second annual Summer JAM. Touted as the networking event of the summer, the JAM drew nearly 800 people last year. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 18 at the Cobb County Civic Center at 548 South Marietta Pkwy. in Marietta. Participating organizations include: West Cobb Business Association, Acworth Business Association, Smyrna Business Association, Austell Business Association, South Cobb Business Association, Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Vinings Business Association, East Cobb …

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Need to Know: Big Shanty Festival 2012

Will you have a booth at this weekend's festival? Tell us in the comments.

An expected 60,000 to 70,000 visitors will fill the streets of downtown Kennesaw this weekend for the city's 36th annual Big Shanty Festival. Festivities will include an opening parade, a flash mob performance, food vendors, more than 250 booths featuring homemade crafts, and live entertainment on two stages. The Big Shanty Festival is a collaborative effort between the city, the Kennesaw Business Association, JRM Management and an extensive team of individuals, businesses and organizations. This year's festival is presented by Superior Plumbing. As one of north Georgia's largest events, the Big Shanty Festival has grown since its humble beginnings in 1975. According to Robert Jones of the Kennesaw Historical Society, the event was …

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Gaetana Pipia

11:27 am on Monday, April 23, 2012

Who attended the Big Shanty Festival? What a wonderful weekend! We'll have more stories, video and photos from the festival posted throughout today, so be sure to check back in with Patch.   more ›

Loud and Clear: Keep It in Cobb

Loud Security Systems' John Loud is one of several business leaders stepping up to lead the Keep It In Cobb initiative.

John Loud, owner of Loud Security Systems in Kennesaw, believes in the Keep It In Cobb Initiative so much that he is putting his money where his beliefs are. The Keep It In Cobb concept is to support locally-owned businesses, maintain the unique community character, provide continuing opportunities for entrepreneurs, and build community economic strength. The program was initiated by Cobb County Commissioner JoAnn Birrell during her election campaign in 2010. The program is now a partnership with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the 11 business associations in Cobb County to promote awareness of buying local and supporting Cobb businesses. It is a three-tier approach: business to business, business to consumer, and business to government, …

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