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Published Tuesday, October 11, 2011 in Local

Photo by Jeffrey Leo

Friends of the Chattahoochee Bend State Park volunteer Gail Ansley cooks hamburgers at Saturday’s inaugural fall festival.

Chattahoochee Bend: About 1,000 attend inaugural fall festival

By John Winters

The Newnan Times-Herald

About 1,000 people showed up Saturday for the inaugural fall festival at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in west Coweta, with organizers calling it "fantastic."

October Outdoors at the Bend featured entertainment, food, games and other events coupled with perfect weather.

"It was a huge success," said Robert Hinely, treasurer of Friends Group of Chattahoochee Bend State Park. "We were going to be happy if we broke even, but we netted some cash for the group."

"We didn't know what to expect, but pretty much everything went well and on schedule," he added.

"It just went great... we were floored by the number that showed up," said Pam Giles, event chairwoman and secretary of the organization. "Everyone just seemed to have a wonderful time."

(To view or purchase photos from the event, visit http://photos.times-herald.com/mycapture and navigate to Events / Coweta for the Chattahoochee Bend State Park gallery.)

Giles said the Friends group made about $1,300, which will go toward trail maintenance and other amenities.

Hinely said organizers went through 250 hamburgers and hot dogs "pretty quick... we'll be better prepared next time."

Among the popular events were the birds of prey show by The Winged Ambassadors and the hay rides.

"The kids loved the hand painting and the pumpkin carving," Hinely added.

"We want to try and do another one in the spring and as well as another one next fall," Hinely said. "Each year it will just get better as we work out all the logistics."

The park is located off Flat Rock Road in northwestern Coweta, along the Chattahoochee River. It opened in July. More information is available at http://bendfriend.org

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