The Southeastern Festivals and Events Association (SFEA) recognized the City of Duluth as one of the best in the region for its events and creative efforts over the last year.

On February 13, at the SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards dinner in Jekyll Island, the City of Duluth was awarded:

• Gold for Best Event Under $75K – Howl on the Green
• Gold for Best Children’s Event – Fridays-N-Duluth: Eureka!
• Gold for Best Vendor – Jessica It’s All Good
• Gold for Best Event Series – Frosty Fun
• Silver for Best Event Under $20K – Barbie’s Dream Pop-Up
• Silver for Best Event under $75K – Viva Las Duluth
• Silver for Best Green Initiative – Community Clean-Up Day
• Silver for Best Marketing Campaign – Howl on the Green
• Silver for Best Art Activation – Chalk Art Festival
• Bronze for Best Event Within an Event – Frosty Fun: Inflatable Wonderland Story Walk
• Bronze for Best Promotional Poster – Howl on the Green
• Bronze for Best Merchandise – Rogers Bridge Memorabilia

The SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards, which recognizes the marketing, programming and overall event, acknowledges the highest level of achievement in the festival and event industry throughout the southeast United States.

The mission of SFEA is to strengthen, educate and unify the festivals and events industry throughout the Southeast.  Comprised of festival and event planners, venues, and industry service providers, SFEA was founded to strengthen the festival and event industry throughout the southeast United States by hosting educational sessions, networking opportunities, award recognition, and additional events throughout the year; thus allowing for continued professional growth within the festivals and events industry.

The 2024 calendar of events has been released and includes many returning favorites and a few new additions. For more information about these and other events, visit www.duluthga.net/events, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofduluth or follow us on Instagram at @city_of_duluth.

Google Translate For Documents

Did you know that you can easily translate any document or PDF into 133 different languages using the free Google Translate website? Translating City Council meeting agendas is just a few clicks away!

Opening & Saving Meeting Agendas to Your Computer

1. Visit duluthga.net and navigate to the Agendas & Minutes page under the Government tab.
2. Open the Agenda document your wish to translate.
3. Save the PDF to your computer by clicking the Download/Save button in the top right corner of your screen. Please note, this button will vary depending on the browser you are using. 

Translate Documents

You can translate documents up to 10 MB in any of these formats: .docx, .pdf, .pptx, .xlsx. PDF files must be 300 pages or less. To translate more documents or larger documents, learn about the Cloud Translation API.

Website Translations

Translating the City of Duluth website is even easier! Simply click Translate in the top right corner of the screen on any of our webpage and all the text will be converted to the language of your choosing.

From the groundbreaking to the grand reveal, the journey of our Gigglebark Tree has been nothing short of magical. Who could forget when our Mayor, Council, and some staff members turned into kids? As the Gigglebark stands tall in Downtown Duluth, we can’t help but wonder if its magic will return them to their grown-up forms. Join us on a whimsical journey as we revisit the magic of the Gigglebark Tree through the eyes of our kid Mayor.

In 2022, the City of Duluth invited Gwinnett County residents of all ages to submit drawings of their dream pieces of playable art for the Playground Design Contest. Among the 175+ entries, designs ranged from sea creatures to tree houses, pirate ships to crash-landed satellites, and musical instruments to giant animals. with the youngest artist to participate being just three years old! The Duluth Public Art Commission faced a fun yet challenging task of analyzing these submissions and selecting the top nine. The Mayor and Council, used these top nine designs to determine their top three winning selections in July of 2022. Ultimately, the winning design, submitted by Lyn-Nell Huffman, was inspired by a willow tree, and it became the foundation for the creation of the Gigglebark Tree.

The Gigglebark Tree playground is a visually stunning combination of several trees. It boasts the colorful bark of a Eucalyptus, the twisting roots of an Overcup Oak, and the swaying branches of a Willow Tree. What sets this playable art apart is the inclusion of a slide winding around the trunk and a root system with steps and tunnels. To add a touch of enchantment, the willow-like branches will illuminate the playground, creating a magical ambiance for all who visit.

The Gigglebark Tree Playground is an extension of the existing Taylor Park playground in Downtown Duluth. While it’s always bittersweet to say goodbye to old trees, some of them had to be removed due to disease, and their tendency to drop branches and pecans, making them unsuitable for a children’s play area. However, the City is committed to maintaining the natural beauty of the area. Now that the playable art is complete, the City will work with an arborist to plant new, safe trees once the playground is complete.

During the interim period as the new trees grow and provide natural shade, the City has install shade sails around the playable art, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the playground even on the sunniest days. Permanent mounted lighting is also in the works to replace the temporary ground lighting.

Thank you to Bliss Products & ID Sculpture, companies known for their innovative playground designs, for bringing the winning submission to life!

We are excited to announce the successful completion and grand opening of Phase 1 of the Main Street Enhanced Sidewalk Project! This project marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity and promote alternative modes of transportation within our community.

The newly opened pathway stretches from Rogers Bridge Road to just shy of Peachtree Industrial Blvd, providing residents and visitors with a safe and spacious 10-foot walking path. Designed to accommodate pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists alike, this addition to our city’s infrastructure is a testament to our commitment to creating a more walkable and bike-friendly environment.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by Mayor Whitlock, Council Member Manfred Graeder, Council Member Shenèe Johnson Holloway, Council Member Marline Thomas, City Staff, and project managers, was hosted on the new pathway on February 1, 2024. As giant scissors sliced through the ribbon, symbolizing the official opening of the pathway, we celebrated not just the completion of Phase 1, but also the promise of enhanced connectivity and community engagement.

Phase II of the Main Street Enhanced Sidewalk Project is already underway, with plans to connect Brock Road to Rogers Bridge Road. Over the next 12-18 months, we will continue to work diligently to bring this vision to fruition, ensuring that every corner of our city is accessible and connected.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this exciting milestone and to explore the newly opened pathway for yourself. Together, let’s walk, jog, and cycle towards a healthier, more vibrant Duluth.