The City of Valdosta will celebrate Georgia Cities Week, Oct 4-10, with a variety of events throughout the week. The theme this year is “Building the 2020 Vision,” which spotlights Valdosta’s important role in creating community gathering spaces and driving economic development. The week also provides opportunities to show appreciation to our residents, public servants, and city employees who serve the community year-round.

“We are proud of our city,” said Mayor Scott James Matheson. “Georgia Cities Week provides the perfect setting to be reminded of the positive steps we have taken and to invite our citizens to play an active role in the betterment of our community.”

Valdosta’s celebration will kick off a few days earlier to include events that are traditionally a part of the weeklong observance. Local events will include:

Saturday | Oct 3

Downtown Sidewalk Chalk Competition | 10 AM - 2 PM

The sidewalk chalk competition is an opportunity for anyone to show off their skills and decorate downtown with beautiful art along the sidewalks!

Groups or individuals will compete for prizes graciously donated by the Downtown Valdosta businesses and restaurants. Competitors are invited to create a chalk drawing on a sidewalk square throughout downtown Valdosta. Participants will have three hours to work on their square. Squares will then be judged by a panel and prizes will be awarded to the Overall Best of Show for each age bracket and a People’s Choice Award.  Official judging based on a 1-5 scale on first impression, creativity, originality, skill, and use of color.  The decisions of the judges are final.

There is no entry fee for the sidewalk chalk competition although preregistration is required.  Please complete a registration form on the Valdosta Main Street Website.  A limited number of registrations will be accepted.  

Artists should bring their own chalk, design, knee pads, plastic tarp (in case of rain), sunscreen, grid/pattern, a camera, a mask, and water.

For additional sidewalk chalk contest information please contact Valdosta Main Street at 229-259-3577 or by email at [email protected].

Monday | Oct 5

Customer Appreciation Day

Customers may browse city information on display at the Customer Service Center, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., while enjoying some complimentary cookies and city swag bags while supplies last. The Customer Service Center is located at 102 N. Lee Street. 

Tuesday | Oct 6

Economic Development Lunch & Learn | Woman's Building - 1409 N Patterson St

Learn about Economic Development in our Community.  This workshop will take place at the Woman's Building from 11:30-1 p.m. Reserve seat by calling 229-259-3548. Only 20 seats are available. Sign up here

Thursday | Oct 8

CDBG Reconstruction Ribbon Cutting | 613 New Hudson Street 

The City of Valdosta will hold a ribbon-cutting Thursday, October 8, at 10:30 a.m., for a newly reconstructed home on 613 New Hudson Street. The reconstructed home was built utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

VPD Open Testing

The Valdosta Police Department will host an Open Testing for those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, on Thursday, Oct 8 at 6 p.m. in the Valdosta City Hall Multi-Purpose Room (located at 300 N. Lee Street). The test is limited to the first 20 people that arrive due to keeping with social distancing guidelines. We also ask everyone that attends to wear a protective face covering and if you are not feeling well please plan on attending a later testing date. Applicants taking the test will need to bring their driver’s license and $15, which is the testing fee.

Saturday | Oct 10

Love Your River Clean-Up | 9 AM -11 AM 

Lowndes County, the City of Valdosta, and WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) are jointly organizing a three-river cleanup in the county, at Troupville Boat Ramp on the Little River, at Sugar Creek on the Withlacoochee River, and at Naylor Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, plus cleanups in Valdosta on One-mile Branch, Two-mile Branch, and Sugar Creek.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the event which will be held from 9 AM to 11 AM, on Saturday, October 10, 2020. No boat is required, although if you want to bring a boat, there are water cleanup opportunities at each river location and some of the creeks.

Volunteers are asked to bring sturdy mud boots or shoes, long pants, and clothes that can get wet or dirty, insect repellant, a refillable water bottle, and an emergency phone number. Trash bags and trash pickers will be provided, as well as drinking water and snacks, but bring your own if you can.

Please maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from people not in your household. Please wear a mask when near people not in your household. Extra masks will be available upon request.

The effort will be part of Rivers Alive, a program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The annual Georgia Waterway Cleanup is expected to once again be the largest single volunteer effort to beautify Georgia’s water resources.

Volunteers can sign up and fill out an event waiver here.

Georgia Cities Week is sponsored by the City of Valdosta and the Georgia Municipal Association to showcase and celebrate cities and the many services they provide.

For more information about Georgia Cities Week activities or Valdosta city services, contact Public Information Officer Ashlyn Johnson at 229-259-3548 or visit www.valdostacity.com. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for the weekly E-news blast and to follow the events on the city’s Facebook, Twitter or YouTube sites.