The Bicentennial torch will on display at Duluth City Hall from December 10 through December 15.

The Bicentennial torch will be relayed by cross country and track teams from Gwinnett Public High School serving as torchbearers in this yearlong torch relay that will cover approximately 200 miles. Runners will carry the torch to historic sites, public facilities, and cities in Gwinnett throughout 2018, the bicentennial celebration year. A traveling Gwinnett County history exhibit will accompany the torch to many of these locations.

The Gwinnett County Bicentennial Torch Relay represents goodwill, the connection between communities, and Gwinnett County’s journey from 1818 to today, where it transformed from a largely agrarian community to one of the fastest growing, most diverse counties in the Southeast.

Gwinnett County’s bicentennial torch made its debut on December 15, 2017, at the bicentennial celebration’s first official event, A Frontier Affair: Prelude to Gwinnett’s Bicentennial, held at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. On December 19, 2017, the torch made its second appearance at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center for a special presentation during a meeting of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The torch relay will culminate at the County’s 200th Birthday Celebration on December 15, 2018, at Gwinnett’s Infinite Energy Center.

The torch will depart from Duluth City Hall at approximately 6:15pm on December 15 on its way to its final location, Gwinnett Infinite Energy Center (arrival time approximately 7:15pm) for Gwinnett’s 200^th Birthday Celebration event.

Visit www.Gwinnett200.com for more information on Gwinnett’s Bicentennial and to follow the torch route.

Location: Duluth City Hall, 3167 Main Street, Duluth

Charlotte was born January 27, 1916, in the family home on Level Creek Road (Sugar Hill, Gwinnett County). Living a full and adventurous life, she ventured from Gwinnett County in the midst of The Great Depression to Detroit, Michigan. There she found

employment and sent money home to assist her family. At the advent of World War II, she joined the Women’s Army Corps and served her country as a supply officer on several bases across the U.S. Married in 1946 in San Antonio, Texas, Charlotte and her husband were actively involved in the National Campers and Hiker’s Association for over 20 years. Here they served as state and national directors. It was during this time that Charlotte developed her skills as a painter. Her last years were devoted to creating three books about her life in “The House on Level Creek Road”, describing her life throughout the gold mining days, depression, and the war. It also describes her family life lived in the home on Level Creek Road and the family’s role in Gwinnett County.

Location: Bethesda Park Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville    

Kudzu Art Zone serves the artist community and promotes the importance of the visual arts to individual growth, cultural heritage, and economic growth. Kudzu Art Zone presents exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists. It demonstrates proactive local leadership by educating artists of all ages; cultivating and growing audiences; and encouraging collaboration among diverse artists, institutions, communities and supporters. A group of artists shared a vision of a thriving artist community and in June 2006 Kudzu Art Zone became a non-profit corporation. In late 2006, the City of Norcross donated a 3,200sq ft. building, Kudzu Art Zone’s current home at 116 Carlyle St. The building features a gallery, artist’s studios and ample space for professional and artistic development opportunities. With over 100 artist members, the Kudzu Art Zone has become a place to thrive, of community support and fellowship.

Location: George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, 55 Buford Highway, Suwaneeway, Suwanee    

Free! Students and families will learn the ways in which traditional knowledge of Native American communities and cutting–edge science are being applied to improve our world and provide solutions to the ecological and health challenges of today. Through the voices of elders and youth, hands–on interactives and clever video games, visitors gather resources, examine data, and take part in the growing movement towards sustainability and reclamation of age–old practices.This exhibit is on display at the GEHC from September 22, 2018 until January 2, 2019.

Location: Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Boulevard, Buford

Free! Like getting lost in a good read? Join Beth from Gwinnett County Public Library to share your book experiences and learn about what others are reading. Each meeting will feature a different genre. Refreshments will be served. Seniors ages 50 and up permitted. Call 678.277.0910 for more information.

Free! Dance and enjoy music while we celebrate Gwinnett County’s 200th birthday. Light refreshments and birthday cake served. Register by December 4.

Location: Bethesda Park Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville

I Can’t Believe It Is Butter!

September 15 

Activity Code: MFP48100

Come out to the farm to learn about the typical chores and take a tour of the historic property, help us churn and taste some butter on the farmhouse porch.

Fall Hike

October 20

Activity Code: MFP48103

Fall into the beautiful foliage of the farm with one of our environmental educators. Look for wildlife and the homes that animals make while exploring the trails.

Native American Heritage

November 17

Activity Code: MFP48104

Explore the rich history of Georgia’s first peoples with hands on activities stories, crafts and games. Make your own cornhusk doll, create an authentic pottery piece and build your own wattle and daub home.

Location: George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, 55 Buford Hwy NE, Suwanee

Get involved in this fun and unique scavenger hunt! Stop by the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse front office and pick up a list specific historical items located throughout the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse and the grounds surrounding the courthouse. Using the list as your guide, spend time getting to know the history of Gwinnett County while locating all items on the list. Bring your completed list back to the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse front desk to receive your bicentennial prize and have your name inscribed on a “Sovereign Scavenger” certificate to be displayed for all to see. Cost: Free.

Location: Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 W. Crogan Street, Lawrenceville

Born and raised in Georgia, Peggy has been a Lilburn resident since 1965. While enjoying painting a variety of subjects, her true passion is painting on canvas. Peggy prefers the versatility of oils to create realistic pictures in a traditional realistic manner. Whether

capturing unique still life, landscape, flowers, or nostalgic scenes, she also seeks out historical subject matter to remind us of our heritage. With a desire to preserve beauty and accuracy in her paintings, her goal is to capture the essence of her subject in a way

that will evoke a feeling of emotion from the viewer. Peggy teaches adult and children’s art classes and has won many awards for her paintings. A series of her work entitled “A Moment in Time”, is a collection of historic and nostalgic scenes of Lilburn. One of Peggy’s portraits, Lilburn Trigg Myers, hangs in the new Lilburn City Hall.

Location: Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Berkeley Lake