Glenville celebrates 50th Sweet Onion Festival despite rain

GLENVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - Rain did not stop festival goers from coming out to Glenville’s 50th Sweet Onion Festival.

“Rain sleet or snow we gon’ dance,” said Share More, a festival goer.

The annual festival celebrates the harvesting of Vidalia sweet onions. Tattnall County grows more sweet onions than any other county in Georgia. Farmers contribute half the state’s crop each year.

According to the Chamber of Commerce, the festival draws over 6,000 visitors.

Festival goers said the day started strong, with crowds thinning out as rain moved in.

“Especially right after the parade we had a big turn out, and then it kind of died out a little bit throughout the day, I think some people got wet and maybe got a little deterred, but the go-harders stayed most of the day,” said Lindsey West, a festival goer.

Events and activities

The festival kicked off at 7:30 a.m. with the Sweet Onion Run. Residents and visitors then moved downtown, shopping vendor tents and listening to live music. The festival is family friendly and has something for attendees of all ages.

“Oh my gosh my boys played the entire day, I don’t even think they knew it was raining,” West said.

For some, the food was the highlight of the day.

“The blooming onion, I gotta have it, I need the sauce, I gotta have it, saw the sign for the gator tail, must have,” More said. “Those loaded gyro fries, amazing, I couldn’t complain one bit.”

Glenville was filled with music all day, with bands hitting the main stage from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Bands said despite the rain, the energy was electric.

“We had a bunch over here that was shaking around with us, some back over here in this corner, so it was good at different times,” said Hugh McCullough of Big Mac & the Heart Attack.

The Sweet Onion Dance closed out the festival, moving inside due to the weather.