Thousands flock to 37th annual Battle of Byron

Patricia Carr smiled as she took a video with her phone of her granddaughter zooming down a giant inflatable slide near downtown’s Jailhouse Alley on Saturday afternoon.

Though the annual Battle of Byron is in its 37th year, it was the pair’s first time attending.

“I went to so many places trying to find things to do while she’s visiting us,” Carr, of Lizella, said of 8-year-old Madison Carr. After reading about the event in The Telegraph, Carr said she decided to check it out with her granddaughter while she’s visiting. “I think it’s nice. It’s a nice big event, they’ve got a lot to choose from. There’s plenty to do.”

With her face painted like a cat, Madison, who lives in Dublin, said she had fun on the slide, but was even more thrilled by a sight often seen in downtown Byron.

“We watched a train,” Madison said, adding it was the first locomotive she’d ever seen up close and in person. “It was cool. … I had to cover my ears.”

The Carrs were among a few thousand who attended the Battle of Byron, which featured classic cars lined up along Main Street, food, live music, vendors, competitions and more.

Formerly hosted at North Peach Park, Saturday marked the second year the event has taken place downtown.

The first one took place May 19, 1979, and was planned by Frances McDaniel, former city clerk and executive director of Byron’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. The event was created in response to a challenge by former Gov. George Busbee for small towns that are underfunded federally to generate self-improvement projects, according to a 2016 souvenir edition and supplement to The Byron Buzz.

The event continues to grow in foot traffic, vendors and volunteers every year, said Kathy Jones, the event’s board co-chair.

“We have 76 vendors this year (and) last year we had 53,” Jones said Saturday afternoon. “It’s gotten better. The word is out. Everybody’s happy. … The day is still going strong.”

A cornhole tournament, a toilet seat toss, panty hose bowling, a wheelbarrow race, tug of war and water gun archery were among the games offered this year.

“It’s a big event,” Jones said. “It helps locals and brings more money in for them.”

While the festival is a boon for participating businesses, it was also a boon for the Byron Police Department, which showcased its newest officer, a furry robotic canine behind the wheel of a minicar, outside the Byron Area Historical Society headquarters.

“He’s a big hit with the kids and he attracts a lot of attention quickly,” Cpl. Lee Smith said as he held a large remote control that allows him to to control the dog’s car, make its eyes blink and move its ears, mouth and more.

Through a headset that allows the sound of his voice to come from the robotic dog’s mouth in a much higher pitch, Smith spoke to the kids about wearing seat belts and playing safe.

“He’s a good community relations officer for us,” Smith said of the robotic dog that joined the squad about a month ago. “It ... helps us show to the community that law enforcement is out here to help them … We’re not the enemy.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Thousands flock to 37th annual Battle of Byron."