HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT! 100 YEARS OF JIMMY CARTER IN PLAINS (SOLD OUT)
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park News Release
Happy Birthday, Mr. President! 100 Years of Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia
Please join the staff at Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, the Friends of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, and the Plains community in wishing President Jimmy Carter a happy 100th birthday! President Carter will be the first former President to reach this momentous milestone on October 1st, 2024. In honor of his centennial celebration, several events will be taking place in and around Plains.
On Saturday, September 28th, the 26th Annual Peanut Festival will be held in downtown Plains, Georgia. Each year on this day, Plains celebrates both President Carter and the farmers who are the backbone of rural agriculture as this time of year signifies the beginning of the peanut harvest. Throughout the day there will be a road race, awards ceremony for this year’s postcard contest held by the Georgia Department of Education, the Plains Peanut Parade, and an evening street dance. There will also be arts, crafts, and food vendors in the Downtown Historic District and Maxine Reece Park throughout the day.
On October 1st, the festivities continue. In conjunction with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a naturalization ceremony will take place at 11:00 am in the Plains High School Auditorium. We will be welcoming and honoring one hundred of our country’s newest citizens. Seating will be limited as priority will be reserved for families of new citizens. Following the Naturalization ceremony at approximately 12:30 pm, weather permitting, there will be a flyover of Navy F18s and Navy Tailhook Flight Association down Highway 280 to honor President Carter’s time spent in the armed forces as a submariner.
To close out his birthday celebrations, a sold-out, private concert hosted by the Friends of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park will take place at Plains High School as artists and community members alike gather to celebrate one of Jimmy Carter’s greatest loves - music! Performing artists include Brent Cobb, a local singer-songwriter and artist who has written songs for country music heavy-hitters like Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town; Sandi Patty, America’s Favorite Inspirational Singer and 5-time Grammy Award Winner who has sung for 5 US Presidents including at President Clinton’s inauguration; Cindy Morgan, a 13-time Dove Award-winning Nashville singer-songwriter; “Pianist to the Presidents” David Osborne; and Andrew Greer, an 8-time Dove Award-nominated singer-songwriter and resident of Plains.
Throughout his birthday week, beginning on September 28th and ending on October 6th, visitors to Jimmy Carter National Historical Park can earn a limited-edition Junior Ranger badge celebrating 100 years of Jimmy Carter. To earn the badge, visitors must complete an in-person photo scavenger hunt. More details can be found at the Plains High School visitor center.
Check for event updates on our social media: Jimmy Carter National Historical Park on Facebook, @jimmycarternps on Instagram.
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, September 28
10:00 AM – Postcard Contest Award Ceremony, Historic Plains Depot
11:00 AM – Peanut Festival Parade
7:30 PM – Live music and Street Dance
Tuesday, October 1
11:00 AM – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony, Plains High School
12:30 PM - Flyover of Navy F18s and Navy Tailhook Flight Association, Plains, GA
7:00 PM – Birthday Concert, Plains High School (sold out)
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Contact: Jennifer Hopkins
Phone and Email: 229-942-0045, jennifer_hopkins@nps.gov