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Clermont celebrates on Saturday
Money raised will benefit temporary shelter for women, kids
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Emily Harper, left, and Jawanda Morrow hold some of the jars they made that will be sold during Clermont Days to benefit My Sister's Place.

It’s time for a cake walk, a country parade and fireworks after dark.

Yes, this Saturday is Clermont Days, with a full plate of activities starting with a 9 a.m. dedication of the new Hall County Fire Station No. 2, said regional founder and chairwoman Emily Harper.

Plus, proceeds from a few of this year’s activities will benefit My Sister’s Place, a temporary shelter for women and their children who are trying to turn their lives around.

"Usually the money we make goes to next year’s (Clermont Days)" Harper said. But after a local donor helped fund the petting zoo, Harper said the committee decided to give the proceeds to My Sister’s Place. A cake walk also will benefit the charity.

"Times are bad, and there’s so many women and children out there that need help," Harper said.

"And a lot of women and children, if they don’t get a little help, they just fall through the cracks."

Harper and a group of organizers also spent time this past week filling jars with navy beans, rice, chilis and spices, also to benefit My Sister’s Place. Harper said the jars will be sold for a $5 donation — or more, hopefully.

Vendors will be set up across Main Street from Concord Baptist Church starting in the morning, and following the fire station’s dedication, Harper said, everyone will focus on the parade.

Antique cars, the North Hall High School marching band and even local members from the National Guard will be staging at Strickland Funeral Home at the corner of U.S. 129 and Main Street. The Patriot Guard also will be riding alongside National Guard troops.

At noon, the parade winds down Main Street and ends at Concord Baptist, where bluegrass, country and gospel music will be playing throughout the day and past dark.

Harper said there are more vendors than ever before — so many that an extra row in the vendors’ area has been set up to accommodate them.

"We’ve got vendors set up — we’re overrun with vendors this year. We had to put a row down the middle because we couldn’t turn people away," Harper said.

"We’re going to have music all day long; we’re going to have country, bluegrass, gospel — there’s something for everybody."

After dark the fireworks start, and there also will be a cake auction for a treat from Truelove’s Bakery.

"And people give big money for that cake," Harper added.