From the May 4, 1961 edition of The Forest-Blade:
ROYALTY SELECTED FOR 16th PINE FESTIVAL
A hazel-eyed 16-year-old brunette from Adrian High School was reigning over the 16th annual Pine Tre Festival. Miss Margaret Hutcheson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Hutcheson of Adrian, was crowned Festival Queen in the coronation ceremonies at the conclusion of the 1961 county-wide finals a Swainsboro High School. King of the 1961 Festival was Bill Mathis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Foots Mathis of Twin City. The prince, Russ Phillips, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Phillips of Swainsboro, while the lovely little princess is Miss Carol Free, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Free.
PARADE UNDERWAY
Observance of the 126th Annual Pine Tree Festival hit the half-way mark. A crowd – estimated by GSP as “between 4,000 and 5,000” – poured into Swainsboro to witness the 45-minute Festival Parade. Size of the crowd was difficult to determine as it was widely scattered over the route of the colorful parade.
