Kay Harris
Following two days of school field trip visits on Thursday and Friday, the annual Azalea International Folk Fair will be geared up to receive the public at a Community Festival on Saturday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What began as a small attempt to bring a taste of the world to Valdosta has blossomed into an event that brings together people of all cultures to enjoy music, dancing, culture and food from around the world.
Powered by the determined Serena Huang, the festival is a feast for the senses and a wonderful way to learn about the world outside our own.
On Saturday, the cultural exhibits will be open and guests will be treated to the Fifth Annual World Culture Folk Dance Competition. Or you can match wits with seventh graders in “World Geography: Are You Smarter than Seventh Graders?” plus a robot technology and invention competition.
Students from the Philippines and Taiwan will be traveling to Valdosta to compete in the youth invention competition.
For more information about the festival, see www.gainternationalfolkfair.org.
Business Roundup
The Hibachi Grill and Buffet on Baytree Road is opening tomorrow, March 1, and I understand the inside has been extensively remodeled, getting it ready for the new restaurant.
Beijing Cafe in the plaza by Harveys and Books-a-Million is holding a grand opening and ribbon cutting Wednesday for its expansion. The owners will now have a large banquet room available to customers.
Shoe Carnival is running ads saying they will be open in their new location by mid-March, between BAM and Best Buy, but I haven’t seen much activity in the building yet.
Speaking of shoe stores, it looks like Nine West will be reopening its shoe store in the Lake Park outlet mall in the next month.
There is a new Laws Furniture store on Bemiss Road by Cuz’s and the Asian market, and new owners have bought the former Electric Sun by Mambo restaurant farther down Bemiss, making it California Sun after some renovations.
And if you missed it, there’s a new Daylight Donuts open in the strip mall on Bemiss by Submarina.
The Krystals on Bemiss at Castle Park closed last week, very suddenly, and no one I’ve asked seems to know why. The best guess is that their lease was up, but if anyone knows the real story out there, call me.
No word yet on the Hibachi Express on North Ashley Street. Lots of signs up, but no activity inside.
If you haven’t heard yet, the Park Avenue Bank has sold five branches to Heritage Bank, including the branch in Adel, so you might want to plan accordingly depending on where you bank in the area. None of the branches in Valdosta were affected.
On a final note, Wild Adventures is getting ready to reopen with a number of big concerts and events planned this year, so check it out.
That’s all I have this week that’s new, but if there’s something I missed, please let me know!
