Record Turnout

Biggest Onion Festival in History

Vidalia was bustling with festival patrons, as over 30,000 people came to the Air Show on Saturday, according to Air Boss George Cline.

“We are so blessed to have a community that supports and gets behind our festival,” 2022 Vidalia Onion Festival Committee Chairman Andy Woodruff remarked. “This was the largest Vidalia Onion Festival in the history of the event, and we couldn’t have done it without all of our volunteers, committee members, fire department, EMS professionals, police officers, and sheriff’s department.”

The weekend of the festival was jampacked with activities, which began on Wednesday for some, as Lyons Volunteer Firefighter Casey Poole took advantage of the opportunity to fly in the Blue Angel 7 FA-18 Super Hornet as an influencer. Last year, Poole became known throughout the continued from page

community for his work to save two lives during a structure fire within the city.

Friday also featured exciting influencer rides, as University of Georgia Quarterback Stetson Bennett flew on the Blue Angel 7 FA-18 Super Hornet, and J.D. Dickerson Primary School Principal Brandon Boston and WTOC Anchor Mariah Congedo flew on the C-130 “Fat Albert.”

On Thursday, the public had the opportunity to begin to celebrate the Vidalia Onion Festival with several downtown events, such as the Chalk Walk and Onion Art & Mimosas, during the morning and the Children’s Parade, Local Entertainment, and Movie Under the Stars at night.

Lee Brice, American Blonde, and more rocked the stage for the concert on Friday night, while the Air Show, Sweet Onion Showdown, and Arts & Crafts Festival entertained visitors on Saturday and Sunday. Geek Squad led a grooving street dance on Saturday night, and fireworks lit up the sky for all to enjoy, all while the Carnival gave kids of all ages fun throughout the entire weekend.

According to Vidalia Onion Committee Member Heather Mead, around 250 volunteers gave their time to the festival. “Almost half of these volunteers were middle and high school students, and we are so thankful to live in a community that values community service from a young age,” she explained.

“We also have been astonished at how many community businesses allow their employees to take time off to volunteer, which is a big deal when the need for volunteers is during work hours. We could not do the festival without this type of generosity, and we are grateful to all. We are so proud of the community we live in.”

Woodruff also reflected on the weekend. “We truly had a great turnout and a wonderful festival,” he emphasized. “I would like to personally thank everyone that had a hand in putting this festival on.”

Plans for 2023 Vidalia Onion Festival will begin next week, as the Committee begins preparing for next year’s event.

OPENING ACT – American Blonde opens for headliner Lee Brice at the Vidalia Onion Festival’s Friday night concert. The duo, Natalia Morris, center, and sister Tinka Morris, left, formerly known as Southern Halo, has local ties. Their father, Jason Morris, a radiologist now based in Mississippi, grew up in Vidalia.Photo by William Ledford, Jr.