Council reaffirms Deep Roots festival, establishes controlled festival zones

The City Council voted Oct. 14 to reaffirm the Deep Roots festival as a community festival and to establish controlled festival zones that allow limited open-container alcohol consumption during the event.

Frank Pendergast, chairman of the Deep Roots Festival, told the council the festival is a 20-year tradition that "last year, Deep Roots welcomed over 40,000 attendees." He said this year’s event will feature more than 80 arts-and-crafts vendors supported by more than 40 local sponsors and will continue to donate proceeds to the Main Street program.

Pendergast described event safety arrangements: coordination with the Milledgeville Police Department, an on-site special response team (SRT), two remote video-and-audio surveillance systems, a drone for real-time monitoring, and a dedicated ambulance provided by Atrium Navicent Health Baldwin. "Our team is experienced, prepared, and deeply committed," he said.

He also outlined event logistics: one main stage combining the community and main stages, a kids zone behind the library and city hall with ride pricing the organizers set at $15 for ages 7 and older and $10 for children 6 and under, and vendor placement along North and South Wayne Street. Pendergast said the festival is free to the public, with limited charges inside the kids zone, and that organizers rely on sponsor support to keep admission free.

Council members adopted Resolution R-25-10-43 to reaffirm Deep Roots as a community festival, permit controlled public consumption of alcoholic beverages within designated festival zones and reaffirm festival rules. The clerk recorded unanimous roll-call approval.

The council also approved Resolution R-25-10-44, an annual set of alcohol license renewals for calendar year 2026, later in the meeting.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025; Pendergast and organizers said they would be available to answer further questions as the event approaches.