Let me get straight to the point: this past weekend’s Bicentennial celebration for the City of Fayetteville, Georgia was a resounding success, regardless of how you measure it. Our community should take pride in how everyone came together to celebrate the past, present, and future of our great city on Saturday, June 3rd. We’re not perfect, and we make mistakes, but look at how far we’ve come and how bright the future looks. I’m not a journalist, nor am I writing this piece to promote an agenda. As most readers know, I’m just a private citizen and local business owner. However, I feel compelled to share some things that made our city’s 200th Birthday Bash extra special from my perspective. In a news landscape often filled with negativity, let’s highlight something positive and see what we can learn from it. Leaders, take note – some of these things might help you in the future.
Joe and Mary Catherine Domaleski with Fayetteville Police Officer Kathryn Johnson Gonzalez. Photo/Joe Domaleski
Diversity: What immediately caught my attention more than anything else was the number of families in attendance, representing a wide range of ages, races, and backgrounds. Although there were no labels or signs, I believe there was a diverse representation of faiths and political beliefs. Notably, there were no protests or actions seeking undue attention for any cause or issue. The celebration showcased one of the most diverse gatherings of people I have ever witnessed in Fayetteville, and it was truly amazing. The diversity felt genuine, proving that we can all coexist harmoniously.
Activities and venue: The celebration offered something for everyone. From history tours and food trucks to adult beverages, entertainment, live music, art, vendors, nature, playgrounds, splash pads, and an impressive fireworks show, it was clear that this event was meticulously planned to cater to a wide range of interests. Pulling off such a diverse and engaging event is no easy task. It’s worth mentioning that just a few years ago, the Fayetteville City Center served as a parking lot and bus barn for the Board of Education’s fleet of school buses. It’s incredible to see how the same spot has transformed into a grass lawn where we can now enjoy concerts and fireworks.
Safety: Hats off to Police Chief Scott Gray and Fire Chief Linda Black for their exceptional leadership in their respective departments and their coordination with supporting agencies from the county and other municipalities to ensure our safety. Public safety personnel were were everywhere, answering questions, directing traffic, providing first aid, and keeping a watchful eye on the event. I can honestly say that I have never felt safer in our city than when I was enjoying the festivities on the lawn of City Center last Saturday night. Despite the long day for the first responders, they even seemed to be enjoying the celebrations, as evidenced by some of them dancing or tapping their toes during the concert.
Start of the fireworks grand finale at the Fayetteville 200th Birthday Bash. Photo/Joe Domaleski
Sponsors: As someone who has both sponsored events and sought out sponsors, I know firsthand that an event cannot take place without their support. I want to express my gratitude to Trilith (yes, Trilith was a major sponsor), Brightmoor, Georgia Military College, Fayette FACTOR, Falcon Design, Clearwater, Walmart, Kroger, and even the Atlanta Falcons for taking a chance and supporting this fantastic event. I understand that sponsoring an event can be a significant financial commitment, but your contributions did not go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated.
Community leaders: There is much to be said about the upfront and personal leadership that I witnessed at the event. It was wonderful to see Chick-fil-A Chairman (and Trilith leader) Dan Cathy and his lovely wife Rhonda walking around, greeting people without an entourage or special security detail. They appeared to be “normal people” who exuded pride about their city. It was also great to see Peachtree City Mayor Kim Learnard and Fayette County Commissioner Chuck Oddo in attendance supporting the City of Fayetteville. While there may have been other community leaders present, these are a few I personally noticed and spoke with. I also had the pleasure of seeing several fellow business owners and peers at the event. It was truly a joy to see all of you there.
City council leaders: I believe every City Councilperson was present that night. I had the opportunity to personally speak with most of them, including Rich Hoffman (who serviced my cars for years and now serves our community on the council), Scott Stacy, and Joe Clark (who always brings so much energy). I believe I also spotted Darryl Langford (go Army!) and Dr. Niyah Glover, although I didn’t have the chance to speak with them from a distance. It was impressive to see all of them mingling with the crowd, answering questions at the City tent, and engaging with the public as true public leaders should. When is the last time your organization (or elected officials) had its full board support and attend one of its own events? Noted and appreciated City Council.
City staff: City Manager Ray Gibson, you have an excellent team, but I’m sure you’re already aware of that. Alongside the public safety personnel, I noticed many of your other department heads in attendance. It was pleasing to see that ALL of them appeared to be enjoying themselves, even as they worked tirelessly throughout the long day. It brought a smile to my face to witness the public works staff actively participating in the festivities, even while handling trash bags. Mainstreet Fayetteville, you all are amazing! I loved the t-shirts and promotions. This is government at its finest, serving the community with cheerfulness. At no point did I sense a “government attitude” from anyone. Well done, Ray, and the entire city staff.
Promotions and communications: PIO Danny Harrison, you and your team did an outstanding job. The lead-up to the event, signage, flyers, newsletters, online updates, social media presence, and especially the infographics were all well-executed. The city’s communications were immensely helpful in keeping us informed about what was happening, when events were taking place, and particularly where to park. As someone whose company has some knowledge of marketing, we recognize a job well-done when we see it. Kudos to you and your team.
Parking and traffic: Seeing is believing, and now I am believer that the city can handle traffic. The city did an excellent job designating parking areas in collaboration with adjacent organizations and ensuring that both vehicular and pedestrian traffic flowed smoothly. The county and local churches also provided much-needed parking areas. Like many others, I often worry about overcrowding and traffic in our city, but on Saturday, everything worked seamlessly, reaffirming my confidence that we can handle it well.
Risk-taking: It is important to acknowledge that organizing a first-time event like this carries significant risks. It can be challenging to predict attendance, determine the level of support required, handle emergencies effectively, and even anticipate the financial outcome. As a private citizen attending the event, I did not have access to the operational details. However, from my perspective, it appears that the event was a tremendous success for all involved. Vendors seemed to be profitable, attendees appeared satisfied, and there were no noticeable safety issues. It seems that the risk paid off, and other community organizations should take note of this success and be inspired to take similar risks. As the saying goes, “build it and they will come.”
City of Fayetteville Mayor Ed Johnson with the author, Joe Domaleski. Photo/Mary Catherine Domaleski
Mayor: Fayetteville Mayor Ed Johnson, though not one to boast about himself, deserves personal commendation from me. Mayor Johnson, a humble Navy Veteran and Pastor, clearly loves our community, and that love is evident in his actions. It is difficult to find another leader in our county who is as grounded in the present while simultaneously inspiring a vision for the future. He has achieved something that very few have been able to accomplish in our community: bringing together a racially and politically diverse group of people to achieve common goals for the betterment of all. I am taking notes, and I encourage other community leaders to do the same. Thank you, Mayor.
Was the event perfect? No. As you might expect, some people got carried away with alcohol (although I didn’t see any major problems). There were long lines at some of the vendors (to be expected on a hot June night), and some people were confused by the activities on the Square versus activities at the City Center. Also, there should have been more restrooms and more frequent cleaning of the restrooms during the event. By the evening, the restrooms were in rough shape. On the whole, it was an outstanding event. One of the best parts? We didn’t have to drive up to Atlanta to sit in traffic to see a concert and fireworks. Mary Catherine and I were home and in bed by 10:30 pm! When was the last time that happened? The party came to our home city, and we’re glad it did.
The Bicentennial celebration in Fayetteville, Georgia was a success, regardless of how it is evaluated. It is a testament to our incredible community, and we should all take pride in the way we joined forces to honor our city’s past, present, and future on Saturday night.
As we move forward, remember the spirit of this celebration. When we come together as a community, great things can be accomplished. Let these observations serve as a reminder to my fellow community leaders that embracing diversity, fostering engaging activities, prioritizing safety, nurturing strong relationships with the business community, and taking calculated risks are essential ingredients for future success. Together, let’s continue building a future for Fayetteville and the surrounding areas that shines even brighter than its storied past.
[Joe Domaleski, a Fayette County resident for 25 years, is the owner of Country Fried Creative – an award-winning digital marketing agency located in Peachtree City. His company was the Fayette Chamber’s 2021 Small Business of the Year. Joe is a husband, father of three grown children, and proud Army veteran. He has an MBA from Georgia State University and enjoys sharing his perspectives drawing from thirty years of business leadership experience. ]