Race Car Parade
9 AM - Saturday, October 25, 2025
RAIN OR SHINE!
The Mountain Moonshine Festival kicks off with a parade on Saturday morning to introduce our Grand Marshal each year. Led by the Grand Marshal, the parade of historical race cars is a favorite among festival attendees of all ages. You never know who will be riding in the race cars but all of the owners love standing near their cars all weekend to talk about the good ole race days, and the more current race days! If you don't believe us, just ask them!
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We are proud to announce this year's Grand Marshal is
RONNIE SANDERS​
The 57th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival, organized by KARE for Kids, Inc. in Dawsonville, GA, proudly announces the 2024 Grand Marshal - Ronnie Sanders. Ronnie is from Fayetteville, GA and has raced all over the United States. He started his racing career in 1967 and has won over 500 races and nine championships. Sanders competed in three Daytona 500s – in 1981, 1987, and 1989. He has competed in Nationwide, Winston Racing Series, ARCA, All Pro and All American Challenge events, among others.
Sanders won the prestigious Snowball Derby in 1977. He was the NASCAR Southeast Regional Champion in 1982 and finished second in the national championship that same year.
In 1987, Sanders set a track record at Bristol International Raceway, His record of 122.787 mph stood for ten years as the fastest time every turned on a half-mile track.
Sanders retired from driving at the end of 2008 and continued as a successful car owner on the short tracks around the country.
Here in Dawsonville, we recognize Ronnie as a 2009 inductee into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and a very familiar face at the Mountain Moonshine Festival and a supporter of the children of Dawson County through the efforts of KARE for Kids, Inc.
Race Car Parade Registration
Welcome to the 57th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival. Our visitors LOVE looking at the race cars and talking to the drivers and owners. They even love hearing them fire up every now and then. We really appreciate you being an impressive part of our worthwhile fundraiser that provides assistance to the less fortunate children of Dawson County.
• Because of fire marshal regulations, space in the parade is very limited. If you participate in the parade, your cars must stay parked in the City Park ALL weekend. Parade participants must pre-register prior to the festival.
• Please bring race cars Friday afternoon, after 5pm to Bearden’s Funeral Home. There will be a police officer looking over the cars all night.
• Haulers need to be parked in the gravel parking lot behind Bearden’s Funeral Home.
• Please report to the KARE for Kids representative at Bearden’s Funeral Home before 8:00 am on Saturday morning for the parade. You must be at Bearden’s by 8:15 am, or you will not be admitted into the parking lot for the parade.
• Bearden’s Funeral Home address is, 334 Georgia 53, Dawsonville, GA 30534, and is located across from the Dawsonville City Hall/Food Lion
• You must leave your cars parked overnight in town on Saturday night. There will be deputies on patrol watching over your cars all night.
• There is no charge for parking your race cars in town, but donations are greatly appreciated!
