Photo & Information courtesy of the Valdosta Daily Times and Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum – Open free to the public Tuesday-Thursday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Submitted by Historic Valdosta.

The first “Valdosta and Lowndes County Forest Festival” was held on October 9, 1947, and included a day of festivities. A pageant, “Panorama of the Pines,” was commissioned by Harrington-Russell of Atlanta and performed at Pendleton Park; it included drama, dance, music, and art, all celebrating pine trees. In 1947, over two-thirds of Lowndes County was covered with timber. Pictured is the U.S. Forest Service Float in downtown Valdosta at the Forest Festival Parade.