IN BRIEF: The city of Conyers is looking at ending the annual Fabulous Fourth Festival at the Georgia International Horse Park. The City Council discussed the advantages and disadvantages to holding the annual festival during the city council retreat Saturday. The Fabulous Fourth Festival attracted about 25,000 attendees last year. The last several several years the festival has cost the city about $9,000 - $5000 a year, not counting the cost of labor and overtime from city employees and police officers.

GIHP Director Jennifer Bexley described the liabilities, such as weather or storm danger, as well as the traffic created. However, she pointed out the benefit of holding an event for the community.

Councilman John Fountain said he noticed two years ago about two thirds of the license plates of cars parked for the Fabulous Fourth were from outside the county.

All city council members were in agreement to not hold the July 4th celebration for 2012.

The council also discussed the Big Haynes Creek Wildlife Festival, which cost the city about $20,000 to $12,000 a year for the last three years, not including staff labor costs and police overtime. The Festival has seen attendance increase from about 3,000 to 6,000 in the last five years. Bexley pointed out the attendance for that event is more local than the Fabulous Fourth and also serves to promote the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center in the GIHP. The Council discussed ending the festival but concluded they would see how the festival progressed.