74th Annual Vidalia Citizens Of the Year Banquet March 29

Two outstanding local citizens will be honored at the 74th Annual Vidalia Citizens of the Year Banquet Tuesday, March 29 at the Vidalia Community Center. The public is invited to attend the traditional community event.

Each year, a man and woman from the community are named Citizen of the Year. Last year’s recipients were Pat Dixon and James Thompson. The event is sponsored by the Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Clubs of Vidalia.

Criteria for being named Citizen of the Year include having “notable character, with high ideals and principles,” and being a citizen “who has contributed his or her God-given talents, time and possessions to improving Vidalia. This service should extend “over and beyond excellence in one’s own profession, business or service enterprise.”

Tickets for the 2022 event are $30 per person and will be sold March 1-18. Tickets are available at the Vidalia Onion Museum, 100 Sweet Onion Dr., 912-538-8687, or by calling 912-293-2214.

This year’s event begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. (cash bar) and hors d’oeuvres and will feature music by pianist John Morgan. As guests are seated, a video program will highlight the past recipients of the honors, beginning in 1941 for Man of the Year, and starting in 1972 for Woman of the Year. In a new twist this year, the Kiwanis men will serve a meal catered by Berry’s Catering and Events that features a main course of Tuscan chicken breast stuffed with Boursin cheese, peppers and onions and topped with Chardonnay cream sauce. New York cheese cake served with fresh berries will cap off the meal.