At its June 4 meeting, the DDA finalized event details, framing the celebration as a transition toward a Homecoming event and deciding to look into a drone show instead of fireworks because it was cheaper. Board members arranged vendor setup and volunteer/staff appreciation, including $15 meal tickets and a $75 gift card, and were asked to be available to help during the event. City manager reports describe the celebration taking place that Saturday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the new park.
IssueCorneliaapproved
Cornelia's DDA and city commission fund, then finish, Big Red Apple centennial event
The city commission put $25,000 toward marking 100 years of the Big Red Apple monument after the downtown development authority took over planning the June 6 celebration at the new park.
Latest
June 4, 2026: Centennial Festival vendor setup and volunteer/staff appreciation
What happens next
No next step has been documented.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
In August 2025, Cornelia's Hospitality & Tourism Board noted that June 26, 2026 would mark 100 years since the Big Red Apple monument was installed and said some kind of celebration was needed. City commissioners heard a presentation on the anniversary in January 2026 and were reminded in March that the date was approaching.
In April 2026, Cornelia's Downtown Development Authority discussed a proposal for it to take over running the celebration, with the event date set for June 6. The city commission then approved a $25,000 budget adjustment, on a 4-0 vote, increasing the city manager's special-projects line item to cover the celebration.
By early May, the DDA was working within that budget: fireworks were expected to cost $15,000 and bounce houses $1,400, leaving roughly $800 to $1,000 for music.
At its June 4 meeting, the DDA finalized event details, framing the celebration as a transition toward a Homecoming event and deciding to look into a drone show instead of fireworks because it was cheaper. Board members arranged vendor setup and volunteer/staff appreciation, including $15 meal tickets and a $75 gift card, and were asked to be available to help during the event. City manager reports describe the celebration taking place that Saturday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the new park.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
mentionedunknownBig Red Apple Centennial Celebration at the new park
The Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration will take place this Saturday from 8:00 AM to
9:00 PM at the new park.
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Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration at the new park
The Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration will take place this Saturday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM at the new park.
DiscusseddiscussedBig Red Apple Centennial Celebration event on June 6
The event will take place on June 6‘ at the new park.
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Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration event on June 6
The event will take place on June 6‘ at the new park.
DiscusseddiscussedBig Red Apple event DDA involvement
Frank encouraged
the board to be ready and available to aid Noah prior to and during the event.
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Big Red Apple event DDA involvement
Frank encouraged the board to be ready and available to aid Noah prior to and during the event.
DiscusseddiscussedPivoting Centennial Festival into Homecoming event and drone show instead of fireworks
the DDA agreed to look
into doing a drone show like the concert. It was also determined that the drone was
significantly cheaper than the fireworks
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Pivoting Centennial Festival into Homecoming event and drone show instead of fireworks
the DDA agreed to look into doing a drone show like the concert. It was also determined that the drone was significantly cheaper than the fireworks
Appeared on agendaproposedTransitioning Centennial event into a Homecoming event
Centennial -> Homecoming
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Transitioning Centennial event into a Homecoming event
Centennial -> Homecoming
Appeared on agendaproposedDDA involvement in the Big Red Apple event
Big Red Apple – DDA Involvement
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DDA involvement in the Big Red Apple event
Big Red Apple – DDA Involvement
DiscusseddiscussedCentennial Festival vendor setup and volunteer/staff appreciation
$15
meal tickets to Way2Baked for the Volunteers and staff. The DDA will be purchasing a $75 gift
card of their choice.
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Centennial Festival vendor setup and volunteer/staff appreciation
$15 meal tickets to Way2Baked for the Volunteers and staff. The DDA will be purchasing a $75 gift card of their choice.
DiscusseddiscussedCentennial Celebration music/entertainment budget and planning
With the fireworks costing
$15,000 and bounce houses costing $1,400, we’ve only have about $800-$1,000 to dedicate
to music.
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Centennial Celebration music/entertainment budget and planning
With the fireworks costing $15,000 and bounce houses costing $1,400, we’ve only have about $800-$1,000 to dedicate to music.
Appeared on agendaproposedBudget adjustment for Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration
Budget Adjustment for Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration
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Budget adjustment for Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration
Budget Adjustment for Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration
ApprovedconfirmedFY26 budget adjustment allocating $25,000 for the Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration
Commissioner Bagwell made a motion for the budget adjustment of $25,000 to increase the City Manager’s Special Projects line item, seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Approved 4 - 0
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FY26 budget adjustment allocating $25,000 for the Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration
Commissioner Bagwell made a motion for the budget adjustment of $25,000 to increase the City Manager’s Special Projects line item, seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Approved 4 - 0
DiscusseddiscussedCentennial Celebration planning and DDA takeover of event
The DDA sent a proposal for them to take over the celebration. The current date on the
calendar is for June 6th
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Centennial Celebration planning and DDA takeover of event
The DDA sent a proposal for them to take over the celebration. The current date on the calendar is for June 6th
Appeared on agendaproposedCentennial Celebration planning
f. Centennial Celebration
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Centennial Celebration planning
f. Centennial Celebration
DiscusseddiscussedCentennial of the Big Red Apple celebration planning
Peter Madruga came forward to remind everyone that we are less than 100 days
away from the Centennial of the Big Red Apple.
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Centennial of the Big Red Apple celebration planning
Peter Madruga came forward to remind everyone that we are less than 100 days away from the Centennial of the Big Red Apple.
DiscusseddiscussedPublic Forum presentation on the 100th anniversary of the Big Red Apple
Peter Madruga gave a presentation on the 100th anniversary of the dedication of
the Big Red Apple on June 4, 2026.
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Public Forum presentation on the 100th anniversary of the Big Red Apple
Peter Madruga gave a presentation on the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Big Red Apple on June 4, 2026.
DiscusseddiscussedBig Red Apple Centennial Celebration planning (100th anniversary, June 26, 2026)
June 26th 2026 marks the 100 year anniversary of the Big Red Apple monument in
Cornelia. There definitely needs to be some kind of celebration for that.
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Big Red Apple Centennial Celebration planning (100th anniversary, June 26, 2026)
June 26th 2026 marks the 100 year anniversary of the Big Red Apple monument in Cornelia. There definitely needs to be some kind of celebration for that.
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