By Carlen Ruth Hultgren
When you think of quintessential East Atlanta Village, what do you think of? The shady, tree lined neighborhood and friendly neighbors? The Village, with locally owned business neighbors, your favorite bars and restaurants, and the Farmer’s Market? Whatever your choice, at the top of the list for quite a few is the East Atlanta Strut. This year’s annual event, held on the fourth Saturday of September every year since 1998, promises to be the most expanded version since 2020.
Local business Screenfixing has stepped up to the plate as the Presenting Sponsor this year, and Creature Comforts is once again, our main Alcohol Sponsor. But there are several local businesses and organizations that have contributed money, goods, and time to the event and to every one of them, “THANK YOU!” The Strut is always grateful for all the sponsors, big and small.
And by now most have seen the big heart in the planter in the middle of the Village. This appeal for community support to keep the party going is a new sponsorship level for EAV neighbors and neighborhood adjacent, the Friend of the Strut Community sponsorship. A $250 donation earns each Community Friend, two collectible Strut T-shirts, two Strut wristbands, two Strut drink tickets (21 and up), and the undying gratitude of the all-volunteer Strut committee. One lucky Community sponsor will be randomly selected to receive a prize package with the Best of East Atlanta. Short on cash but long on contacts? Send us a sponsorship lead. If it results in a sponsorship of $1,000 or more, your name will be included in the prize package pool. Your support lasts not only all day, but all year long with the Strut Grants to local non-profits, schools, and other organizations.
Strut morning starts with a third-year tradition, the EAV Strut 5K. You can run, walk, stroll or strut through historic East Atlanta Village. Brought to you by the East Atlanta Runs team and EAV Main Street/East Atlanta Business Association, this has become a popular annual event and a terrific way to kick off your Strut day.
At noon all the festivities begin with the always entertaining EAV Strut Parade including marching bands to dance troops, local schools and retirement homes, floats from all over the neighborhood, the queens of East Atlanta, and our favorite lucky #13 fire station.
Games, new and old, follow in quick order, with many of them exclusive to the East Atlanta Strut, like Leaf Blower Madness one of the favorites from the 2020 version, which requires the operator of the leaf blower to move a duct tape encased tissue box (I kid you not) around an obstacle course on the bocce courts at Midway. Back at the Farmer’s Market and Strut Central, you’ll be invited to be a taster for the Strut Your Bake, rum desert contest. Inspired by longtime neighbor Katherine Carter, her legendary desert brought her the title of Ms. Rum Cake at the very first East Atlanta Strut. This year’s Strut Your Bake sponsor, Chairman’s Reserve Rum returns with sweet libations if you like rum, but baked goods aren’t your jam.
Like Llamas? Like Bingo? Do we have a game for you! The ever-popular Llama poop bingo returns Metropolitan Studios with the loveable llamas from our neighbors Wit’s End Llama Consortium and their cuddy friends from Red Wagon Goats. From Metropolitan to Flat Shoals, it’s a short walk to the newest competition, the Wing Toss on Flat Shoals
Two new competitions invented for all the little ones, we mean really little, to enjoy; or better said, the adults will enjoy watching. The inaugural versions of the Baby Crawl and the Toddler Trot. Exactly what they sound like, an opportunity for the smallest of East Atlanta’s neighbors to show off what physical prowess they have gained in their short lives. These will take place at Kid Central, at Brownwood Park, where another new participant, Forest City Sport Dogs, a disc dog event, will show their talents.
Live music will start early and go all day, both in the festival footprint stages and around the neighborhood in yards and patios, in Porchfest fashion. All day, there will be live mural painting by local artists at Brownwood Park in the playground.
The collectible and coveted Strut T-Shirt is available for pre-order now. This year’s design is by local artist John Medzerian and is available on a soft black or white cotton tee. These shirts always sell out on Strut day, so order now on the Strut site. Check out John’s art: @jmedzerian
And as an all-volunteer festival, this 28-year-old event could not come together year after year, without the loyal volunteer crew. If you want to join this year, sign up now. Folks are needed on the day of, but there are options to help before the event as well. The Strut donates $50 to a local nonprofit for every 2-hour volunteer shift. Run completely by volunteers and giving its profits back to the community in the form of grants, the Strut can only happen with your help.
Keep the Heart of East Atlanta beating with your participation, whether that be sponsoring as a business or a community neighbor, volunteering, attending, or purchasing from the artists, vendors, sponsors, and local businesses. It all keeps the lifeblood of the Strut flowing. Get all your questions answered at www.EastAtlantaStrut.com.
