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Food, drinks, raffle items on tap for annual Oconeefest on UNC Oconee Campus

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  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 4:33 GMT by Athens Banner-Herald
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Oconeefest in Watkinsville Raises Record Scholarship Funds for UNG Students

The summer heat may have been on the rise, but the atmosphere in Watkinsville was anything but warm‑down. At the 18th‑anniversary Oconeefest—an event that has become a staple of Oconee County’s cultural calendar—the city’s main streets were alive with music, laughter, and a collective sense of purpose. The festival, which kicked off on Friday night and ran through Sunday afternoon, culminated in a headline‑making donation that will benefit students at the University of North Georgia’s (UNG) Watkinsville campus for years to come.

A Festival That Feels Like Home

Oconeefest, which has traditionally been a tribute to the region’s rich history and vibrant community spirit, was founded in 2007 by a coalition of local business owners, civic leaders, and UNG alumni. Over the past decade and a half the event has grown from a modest street fair into a multi‑day showcase featuring live music, arts & crafts stalls, a carnival midway, and a host of family‑friendly activities.

“This is where our community comes together,” said Mayor Susan Harper, who opened the festivities with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony at the heart of the town square. “From farmers’ markets to local theater groups, Oconeefest is a celebration of what makes Watkinsville special.”

The festival’s name—an affectionate nod to the nearby Oconee River and the county that shares its name—has become a brand in its own right. In 2025, the event drew an estimated 12,000 attendees, a significant jump from the 9,000 seen last year.

A Fundraising Phenomenon

The event’s highlight, however, was not the music or the rides but the way the community pooled its resources to support the next generation of UNG scholars. A headline auction—featuring a private dinner with UNG’s President, a once‑in‑a‑lifetime guided rafting trip, and a “day as a professor” experience—topped a $50,000 haul. According to UNG’s Office of Student Financial Aid, this figure eclipses the previous record by 25 percent.

The money will go directly to the “Oconee Scholars Fund,” an endowment established by UNG alumni in 2018 to assist students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need. As part of the donation, the university will match the amount in scholarships over the next five years, effectively doubling the impact.

“This is a beautiful example of how our community can uplift our students,” said Dr. Lisa Monroe, Director of Student Financial Aid at UNG. “It’s not just a donation; it’s a partnership that ensures more students can pursue degrees without the weight of financial barriers.”

Student Voices and Future Plans

The festival also featured a “Student Spotlight” segment, in which current UNG scholars shared how the new scholarship funds would change their lives. One senior, Marcus Patel, a biology major, explained that the scholarship would allow him to skip a semester of tuition and focus on his research internship at a local university. “It’s a game changer,” Patel said. “I can focus on my studies without worrying about the next payment.”

The event’s organizers also announced plans to make Oconeefest an even more integral part of the scholarship ecosystem. In addition to the headline auction, they will introduce a “Community Hero” award, recognizing local volunteers and donors who make a difference in students’ lives. The festival’s ticket sales will also continue to funnel a portion of proceeds to the scholarship fund, ensuring a steady stream of support beyond the event itself.

“We’re looking at ways to turn Oconeefest into a year‑long fundraising engine,” said event coordinator Alex Ramirez. “We’ll add a monthly “Oconeefest in the City” mini‑event to keep the momentum going.”

The Bigger Picture

The success of Oconeefest in 2025 underscores a broader trend in which small towns in the Southeast are harnessing local pride and resources to address higher education affordability. According to a recent report by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the average cost of tuition and fees at regional public universities has risen by 8 percent over the past five years. Community‑driven scholarship funds are increasingly seen as a vital countermeasure.

UNG’s Watkinsville campus, which serves more than 2,400 students, has been a beneficiary of such initiatives in the past. The university’s 2024 strategic plan highlights community engagement as a key pillar, noting that partnerships with local businesses and civic groups have helped reduce the student debt burden by 12 percent for alumni over the last decade.

“The Oconee Scholars Fund is a tangible manifestation of that strategy,” said Dr. Monroe. “When the community invests in our students, we see a ripple effect that strengthens the entire region.”

Final Thoughts

As the last of the carnival rides were pulled down and the final music notes faded into the evening, the community’s collective sense of accomplishment lingered. A tangible $50,000—augmented by the university’s matching pledge—was not merely a sum of money; it was an investment in people, potential, and the future of Oconee County.

Oconeefest will return next summer, and with each year, it will likely become even more than a festival—it will be a beacon of hope for students who might otherwise be unable to pursue their educational dreams. For now, the town of Watkinsville, the University of North Georgia, and the broader community can take a moment to celebrate a day when music, merriment, and mutual support converged to create something truly transformative.