About Us
About HomeTown Festivals
HomeTown Festivals, through diverse events—from golf scrambles to galas, parades to A Christmas Market—enhances the sense of place, quality of life, fellowship, and pride in Valdosta/Lowndes County. By showcasing local organizations and artists, and fostering community coordination, we create a lasting economic impact, turning every event into a celebration of unity.
Our guiding theme, 'Putting the Unity Back in Community,' is at the heart of everything we do. As a nonprofit service organization, we coordinate, organize, and promote each event, ensuring it not only celebrates but also sponsors local causes, fostering unity and a lasting impact.
Why We Do This Work
Our community includes people who have lived here for generations and others who arrived through military service, education, healthcare, and other paths. Each brings experiences and traditions that contribute to the place we call home.
We create opportunities for people to share those traditions, experience something new, and find something familiar. Our events give families and neighbors time together, provide artisans and small businesses a place to connect with customers, and introduce community members to nonprofits whose work needs their support.
Founder, Denise Peters
Denise Peters is the visionary behind HomeTown Festivals, born from a belief that Valdosta deserved events that do more than entertain—they bring us together. From orchestrating Mardi Gras to a HomeTown Christmas, her passion is 'putting the unity back in the community.' For Denise, every event is a stage where neighbors become family.
How We Began
HomeTown Festivals began in 2025 when founder Denise Peters approached the City of Valdosta with an idea for a Mardi Gras festival. She wanted to offer a different kind of local event, one that invited people to experience the history and cultural traditions behind the celebration.
After receiving permission to move forward, Denise established Krewe de Fondatrice Corp. to seek the support needed to bring the idea to life. The organization received IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in August 2025. That first idea grew into HomeTown Festivals and a broader commitment to community celebrations and charitable partnerships.
Celebrations With Purpose
Through Mardi Gras, we introduce attendees to traditions that reach beyond the familiar image of Bourbon Street. A HomeTown Christmas draws inspiration from the Christmas markets Denise visited while living in Germany with the military: artisans sharing their work, seasonal foods and warm drinks, music, and loved ones gathering to enjoy the season. Our open-air market brings that spirit here while welcoming vendors who share goods and holiday traditions from their own cultures.
Our gala and Let the Good Times Roll Golf Scramble bring people together through nonprofit fundraising partnerships. The gala supports CASA of Lowndes and Echols Counties and its advocacy for children in foster care. The golf scramble supports a different nonprofit each year, extending our reach and connecting participants with more organizations serving the community.
Our Vision
We are working to establish A HomeTown Christmas as an annual holiday tradition for South Georgia and North Florida and grow Mardi Gras into a festival featuring a parade, jazz music, and cultural experiences.
As we grow, we aim to attract visitors, create opportunities for small businesses, and continue helping nonprofit partners raise funds and connect with supporters.
Be Part of the Tradition
Attend, volunteer, become a vendor, sponsor an event, or support a nonprofit partnership. Your participation helps build traditions that belong to this community.
Together, we are putting the unity back in community.