The 2nd Annual Festival of Hope will take place on Saturday, September 2nd, from 10am-2pm at Mill Creek Park. The festival will have an array of food, arts & crafts vendors, as well as a resource fair.
An Overdose Awareness Walk will also take place at the beginning of the festival, done in memory of those lost to overdose.
(Please note that the Annual Overdose Awareness Walk will require registration. And while there is no registration fee, advanced registration is required for participants to receive a t-shirt. Secure your Festival of Hope t-shirt by registering HERE.)
The musical act "Tall Paul Trio" will perform during the festival. They are expected to take attendees on a musical journey ranging from Tyler Childers, to bluegrass and classical rock.
The annual theme of the Festival of Hope is "Remembering those we have lost to overdose and celebrating the hope of recovery".
The event is sponsored by the Bulloch County Alcohol and Drug Council (BADC), Hannah's Hope, Freedom Through Recovery: The Susan Ford Recovery Community Organization and Suzy Fordham.
Background on the Festival
Fordham's Farmhouse restaurant owner, Suzy Fordham, turned her personal pain to power after the sudden loss of her daughter, Hannah Jane Fordham, back in August 2019 to a drug overdose.
Hannah was a graduate of the Southeast Bulloch High School Class of 2013 and a bright light in the Statesboro community. She was well-known for her free spirit, sharp mind, and fervor for life.
One of the many ways that Suzy continues to honor her daughter’s legacy is through the annual Festival of Hope.
The Festival of Hope typically takes place in September, as September is also National Recovery Month. So, when initially kicking off the inaugural Festival of Hope event last year, Suzy found it the perfect time to highlight the hope of recovery for all.
"In addition to remembering the lives of those lost to substance use, we are trying to reach young people who could end up in a similar circumstance due to having a substance use disorder," she said. "Our goal for this event is to shift the focus from loss to recovery. So, we will have several resource tables available at the Festival of Hope for more recovery and prevention information. I would like to thank Charlotte Spell, Catherine Tootle, and Gabby Lores for helping this event come together for its second year."
Hannah's Hope
Hannah's namesake non-profit, "Hannah's Hope", is a nonprofit organization driven by the belief that addiction should be approached as a disorder rather than a moral failing, Hannah's Hope strives to break down the stigma and misconceptions associated with substance use. By fostering open and empathetic dialogue, we aim to create an environment where individuals battling substance use disorder and their loved ones can find support and understanding.
"Hannah's Hope is a non-profit whose mission is to raise money to help people get into recovery and get started in treatment," Fordham shared. "Our non-profit seeks to help others by providing entry into safe recovery homes and spaces, because everyone deserves treatment."
If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Festival of Hope Festival, fill out the registration link HERE.
For more information on Hannah's Hope or the Festival of Hope, contact Hannahshopega@gmail.com.