U-R file photos Visitors watch the parade celebrating the Dairy Festival in this file photo. The 51st annual Putnam County Dairy Festival will be held Saturday, and thousands of visitors, residents and former residents will come out to the many events.

EATONTON, Ga. — The Pilot Club of Eatonton invites everyone to Dairy Festival Day 2024, continuing a Putnam County tradition that goes back to 1953. The celebration of all things dairy will be held Saturday, June 1, around and on the lawn of the downtown courthouse square.

There’s food, fun games for the children, competitions and entertainment from sunrise on.

The Pilot Club gets the day started on the right foot with the Dairy Festival Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. and 5K road race at 8 through the historic district of downtown Eatonton. Things start on the corner of West Harris Street and Madison Avenue and finish in front of the Plaza Arts Center, 305 N. Madison Ave.Packet Pickup begins at 7 on the steps of the Plaza Arts Center.

There will not be race day registration. The 5K is $20 including T-shirt. Fun run is $15 including T-shirt.Registration is available at RunSignup.com, putnamcodairyfestival.com/road-race, and the deadline is May 30.

Beginning at 9 a.m., Dairy Festival activities continue featuring arts, crafts and food vendors; exhibitors include a dairy exhibition, special children’s activities and free ice cream.

At 10 a.m. the Dairy Festival Parade begins.

At 11 a.m., the platform program featuring local leaders, recognition of youth involvement, and introduction to the 2024 Dairy Festival Queen and court.

At noon, the afternoon entertainment begins including Ray Saltamacchio’s Tang Soo Do Karate Putnam County Demo Team, the Putnam County Middle School Drama Department, Uncle Remus storytellerGeorgia Smith and Putnam County High School vocalists.

Dairy Festival activities go beyond Saturday’s slate.

The 32nd annual Putnam County Summer Classic Barrel Race hosted by Manley Arena on Oconee Springs Road starts on Friday, May 31, at noon, runs all day Saturday and concludes Sunday with the finals and the awarding of fivesaddles and fivebuckles to the 2024 Putnam County Summer Classic Barrel Racing Champions.

The Plaza Arts Center is offering a free concert for the community to help kick off the Dairy Festival weekend. The band GridRocked is a local favorite and is sure to provide a fun night of musicstarting at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, a new event to be held as the Putnam County Recreation Center welcomes the “Inaugural Udder Smash Pickleball Tournament” beginning at 7:30 a.m.

For additional information about Dairy Festival events visit www.putnamcodairyfestival.com or email questions to pilotclubofeatonton@gmail.com.

Beginning in 1953, Putnam County recognized local dairy farmers and their contributions at the annual Putnam County Dairy Festival. The Dairy Festival has always been held during the month of June because June is National Dairy Month. According to The Dairy Alliance, since 1939, during June, throughout the country, National Dairy Month is observed by communities, companies and people in a variety of ways, such as fairs and festivals to recognize milk, milk products and the dairy industry and dairy farmers. At the Putnam County Dairy Festival, a milk production display is provided and this year a special recognition of youth involvement in the future of the industry. While the number of dairies in Putnam County has decreased over the years, dairy farming remains a major industry. Local dairy farmers continue to work hard to provide safe and wholesome dairy foods.