Today is the final deadline to secure a vendor spot for the 2026 BBQ & Boogie Festival. Event organizers have confirmed that applications will officially close at the end of the day today, Friday, April 17th. The two-day downtown Calhoun celebration kicks off next weekend on April 24th. Anyone interested in participating in this massive community event must submit their application immediately via Eventeny at this link: https://www.eventeny.com/events/bbq-and-boogie-festival-calhoun-2026-24995/
New Café Coming to Old Bruster’s Building
A new independent eatery is officially coming to South Wall Street. According to City of Calhoun Building Official Joey Moore, a building permit has been issued to J.T. Williams Construction to transform the old Bruster’s Ice Cream building into La Brulee Café. The property at 710 South Wall Street has sat vacant for over a decade, but renovations officially began on Thursday with the removal of the old red awnings and signage. La Brulee Café is not a franchise and will utilize the existing 1,510-square-foot footprint to offer a drive-thru and intimate interior dining for 18 guests. A menu and opening date have not yet been announced.
Local Gordon County Emergency Burn Ban
Local officials are urgently requesting that Gordon County residents stop all outdoor burning. Due to ongoing dry weather and drought conditions, authorities are moving forward with a temporary local burn ban to prevent the rapid spread of wildfires. This emergency measure takes precedence over the upcoming May 1st state restrictions and prohibits the burning of all yard debris, limbs, and grass. The local ban will remain actively enforced by Fire Rescue and Code Enforcement until the area receives significant rainfall, though exceptions are still being made for closely monitored outdoor cooking grills.