Currahee Military Weekend Starts Friday

Currahee Military Weekend gears up Friday (Oct.2) for a busy weekend.

The annual event that honors the World War II paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa takes place this weekend in Toccoa and Stephens County.

Starting off events Friday is the annual Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce BBQ, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Georgia National Guard Armory Hall in downtown Toccoa.

Friday afternoon, authors and veterans will gather from 1 to 5 p.m. for the annual book signing in the Mitchell Allen Meeting Room at the historic train depot in downtown Toccoa.

Stephens County Historical Society Executive Director Brenda Carlan said the book signing has become one of everyone’s favorite events.

“Traditionally at a book signing, you think of authors, but ours has turned into authors and veterans,” said Carlan. “Many of the veterans that have been coming here through the years are mentioned in these books. Some of them have written a book.”

Also Friday night is the Hangar Dance at the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport from 7 to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $15 at the door for the dance.

Moving to Saturday, things start with the Currahee Challenge Run/Walk at 7 a.m. where runners and walkers can travel the same footsteps that the paratroopers did when they trained on Currahee Mountain.

Throughout the day on Saturday, downtown Toccoa will transform into a World War II-era scene.

Carlan said there will be various re-enactors and displays throughout downtown.

“They set up what they call an encampment,” said Carlan. “They set up a pup tent. There is a group coming that will set up a mess hall. They set up around the courthouse.”

Also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, there will be various activities and displays at the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport.

Something new this year on Saturday and Sunday is the arrival of a steam train in downtown Toccoa.

Carlan said the train will be at the depot from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. both days.

“If you have not seen a real, old-fashioned steam train, this is an opportunity,” said Carlan.

Also, downtown restaurants and food vendors will be open on Doyle Street extended hours to cater to Military Weekend and those coming on the train, and there will be special entertainment at the corner of Doyle and Pond streets on Saturday.

At 2 p.m., the annual veterans’ parade will travel through downtown, following the same route it has in years past, traveling on Doyle Street before turning onto Sage Street, then Foreacre Street, and Alexander Street before ending this year at the Stephens County Government Building for the ceremony that follows the parade.

Saturday night, the Historical Society will host its annual Banquet and Auction fundraiser at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center.

Then on Sunday, there will be the annual remembrance service at the Parachute Infantry Regimental Memorial on Currahee Mountain starting at 8:30 a.m.

Carlan said that is always a special time.

“It is a tribute to the veterans, the men that fought, and of course, we are actually are very honored and do give tribute to the ones that are still here with us,” said Carlan. “It has always been a touching moment when you are up there. A lot of these men, they are losing their friends and every year, when they leave, they say they may not be back next year. It is kind of a bittersweet weekend because we have lost so many of our favorite (veterans) in the past year.”

For more information on Currahee Military Weekend, go to www.toccoagachamber.com.