Byron in Peach County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Second Atlanta International Pop Festival
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
1. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker
Erected 2012 by Georgia Historical Society, the Byron Area Historical Society, the Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association, the Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House, and Hittin the Note. (Marker Number 111-2.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 1970.
Location. 32° 40.1′ N, 83° 42.517′ W. Marker is
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Evans-Peavy-Hisel Home (approx. 3 miles away); Peavy-Robertson Home (approx. 3.1 miles away); Byron Depot (approx. 3.1 miles away); Byron Jail (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Drugstore (approx. 3.1 miles away); Jailhouse Park / City of Byron (approx. 3.1 miles away); H.J. Peavy & Son (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Fallen President (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Byron.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Flint Electric Membership Corporation (was approx. 6.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
2. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker
US Highway 41 is on the left
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
3. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
The marker, under an appropriate cover, prior to the dedication.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
4. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
A part of the large crowd awaiting the marker dedication
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
5. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Tim Thornton, the owner of Middle Georgia Raceway (site of the festival), served as master of ceremonies for the dedication.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
6. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Brian Williams, Georgia Historical Society Communications Coordinator, explained the Society's marker program.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
7. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Marj Liaguno, from the Byron Area Historical Society, reminisced about the festival and the process of obtaining the marker.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
8. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Byron Mayor Larry Collins, who was a young ice cream vendor at the original festival, explained the site and locations, including that a "world class" liquor still stood about where the marker stands today.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
9. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Alex Cooley, the Atlanta area's best known concert promoter, created the Atlanta International Pop Festival at a race track near Atlanta on the July 4th weekend in 1969. This was more than a month before Woodstock. In 1970 he moved the Festival to Byron. He later created the Texas International Pop Festival.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
10. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Tim Thornton and Mayor Larry Collins presented Alex Cooley with a Key to the City of Byron, and named him the "Baron of Byron." (In 1970 many Byron citizens wanted to run Cooley out of town.)
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
11. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
Ready to unveil the marker; the cord is held by Thornton, Liaguno, Williams, Mayor Collins, and Cooley.
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
12. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker
Unveiling the marker
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
13. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
The marker unveiled!
Photographed by David Seibert, September 16, 2012
14. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker Dedication
The Middle Georgia Raceway, site of the Second Atlanta International Pop Festival, in in the distance. (The low "hill" is the banking of the raceway.)
Photographed by David Seibert, September 15, 2012
15. Second Atlanta International Pop Festival Marker dedication
The Allman Brothers Band was based in nearby Macon, and played at the Festival just as their career was taking off. Many at the dedication remember them well.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,190 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 15, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on September 16, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
