Little communities often host big events. I am the interim pastor at such a community. Euharlee is a small town nine miles east of Cartersville in Bartow County on Euharlee Road. Archaeological evidence indicates the area was occupied by Native Americans as far back as 800 BC.

The name Euharlee is a derivation of the Cherokee name “Yuhali” which means “She laughs as she runs,” a reference to the sound of the running water of Euharlee Creek.

The present settlement was developed circa 1830 around several mills with ruins still remaining.

Georgia’s oldest covered bridge is a pride of the community, built in 1886 and closed to traffic in 1976 when a modern bridge was built. It was designed by Horace King, the freedman builder who used a truss design patented by Ithiel Town known as Town Lattice. Each piece was pre-cut and numbered before being assembled in place.

Modern-day Euharlee prides itself as the home of two lovely large schools: Woodland Middle School and Euharlee Elementary School sit directly across the road from each other and right beside Euharlee Baptist Church.

It is also the site of Plant Bowen. The plant’s 3499 megawatts makes it the largest coal-fired power plant in America.

Two of the plant’s four smokestacks rise 390 feet and are visible from Kennesaw to Rome. Particles are removed from the exhaust gases through use of electrostatic precipitators.

The community boasts some excellent restaurants, a museum, parks, library, churches, senior adult center, general store government building, but not much else.

All of this will be the setting for one of their biggest events of the year. It is “The Euharlee Covered Bridge ’Que” to be held June 16, from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. in Frankie Harris Park. The cook-off competition is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and offers $7,500 in prizes.

This family friendly festival will have arts and crafts, a karate demonstration, children’s activities and entertainment, such as pony and train rides, car, truck, and motorcycle shows, plus clogging and ballet.

Speaking of motorcycles, I am Interim Pastor at Euharlee Baptist Church. I do not have a new Harley.

A visit to Euharlee is in ways a step back in time. It is small, quaint, quiet, and tranquil populated by friendly folks. It has a pleasant hint of Appalachia. Don’t expect anything big, other than the ’Que, but do expect to go away with a sense of renewal.

If you can’t come for the ’Que, come some other time. It is only a 35 minute drive from Cobb.

It has been a delight to see folks from the Cobb/Atlanta area every Sunday in worship with us.

If you come on a Sunday worship with us. Pack a lunch and picnic on Euharlee Creek while listening to see if “she laughs as she runs.” You might very well join the laughter.

The Rev. Dr. Nelson Price is pastor emeritus of Roswell Street Baptist Church.