A Word From
Mayor Derek Easterling
G
reetings, Kennesaw! Spring is in full bloom, and your community is preparing for some awesome opportunities and events for you to enjoy during the next month. Before I move forward, however, I want to thank everyone who came out and enjoyed the Big Shanty Parade and Festival last month. It was a chilly start on a Saturday morning, but the weather improved, and we had an exceptional Sunday. First up in May is the launch of the First Friday Concert Series. This is our second year hosting the event, and the lineup is incredible. The series kicks off with the party band Used Groove, which plays classic and modern rock, funk, pop, rhythm and blues, and dance hits. Kennesaw Parks & Recreation’s Outdoor Movie Series will show three movies at Swift-Cantrell Park this summer: Walt Disney Pictures’ “Encanto” (PG) on May 14, Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (PG-13) on June 4 and Universal Pictures’ “Sing 2” (PG) on July 23. Movies are shown after sundown on a giant inflatable screen in a large field at the park. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, etc., and food vendors will be available at 6 p.m. VIP tents also can be rented for $50 for each movie. The tent rental includes a 10-by-10 tent set up by the parks department, a 6-foot table and six chairs.
Tents are placed at the back of the viewing area, so as to not block the view of other moviegoers. The 2022 Kennesaw Farmers Market has returned to Depot Park for the 2022 season. This year’s market takes place 3:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 1 in the Big Shanty Drive parking lot at the park. It will be closed May 30 for Memorial Day and July 4 for Independence Day. The market features farmers and makers, as well as some local-favorite food trucks. On a typical market day in the summer, more than 20 vendors will be set up, offering their vegetables, fruits, baked goods and specialty items. In closing this month, I want to highlight another successful project kickoff in our community. At its April 4 meeting, the City Council approved moving forward with improving the lighting plan for four local communities. Working with Georgia Power and Cobb EMC, the city will install more than 100 streetlights in the Woodland Acres, Tara, Knightsbridge and Blackjack subdivisions. The folks in these communities have been asking for these improvements, and city staff worked hard to make it happen. Thank you to all who had a hand in making this effort a reality. Be blessed!
Derek Easterling has served as Kennesaw’s mayor since 2016. He is dedicated to serving his community to the highest level possible.
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AROUND KENNESAW | May 2022
