The festival will include an official meeting that begins in the Jerusalem Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. with the announcement of poster contest winners and two speeches given by Georgia Salzburger Society Vice President Norman Turner.

Turner will speak about "The Incident at Ebenezer," where General Sherman's army left freed slaves on the north side of Ebenezer creek. A historical marker providing information about the incident is expected to arrive by the end of the year.

Turner also will speak on "Jerusalem Lutheran Church vs. The United States Government," a late 1800s claim from the church's pastor for reimbursement of property destroyed by the federal army. Each item that was destroyed, burnt, or stolen was listed and a dollar amount was designated for reimbursement. The claim was settled in 1915, 50 years after the war ended.

Festival Facts • The annual Salzburger Labor Day Heritage Festival will be held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1, at New Ebenezer. • For more information contact the Georgia Salzburger Society, 2980 Ebenezer Road, Rincon, GA, 31326. Phone: 754-7001 • To make reservations for the New Ebenezer Retreat Center, call 754-9242 or e-mail retreat@newebenezer.org. • Lunch is $10. An overnight lodging package is also available. • The 2003 Labor Day Poster Contest is open to all descendents of Salzburgers from second grade to adult. Contact herb52@aol.com for more information.

Visitors to the festival also will enjoy a variety of activities including The Ebenezer Markt Platz (Market Place). The Markt Platz will feature authentic foods and products of the Salzburger era from at least 100 years ago.

Many historical displays are scheduled, including cane grinding, syrup making, basket weaving, pottery, chair caning, blacksmithing and carpentry. Indian artifacts and an arrowhead collection also will be on display.

The Lemonade Barrel will be distributing free lemonade again this year, always a favorite among festival-goers. Concessions will be available and visitors who wish to attend a "sit down" meal may reserve a seat at the New Ebenezer Retreat Center annual Labor Day luncheon. The cost is $10 per person, and reservations are required. The retreat center also is available for overnight stays.

Heritage books will be for sale through the Salzburger museum and, Turner said, a new four-volume book is expected to be available. "It took about 10 years to print," he said. "The book is called 'Georgia Salzburger and Allied Families,' and it went to the publishers with projected delivery of Labor Day." The book is an effort of many members of the Salzburger society, including three or four generations of families, that assisted in providing genealogy information.

In addition to the historical items in the Markt Platz, the East Florida Rangers, a colonial reenactment group, will demonstrate. The Jerusalem Lutheran Church will be open, as well as the Salzburger museum, the old Salzburger house and the old parsonage. Archeological finds are on display in the museum, and Turner said a 12-minute video about the Salzburgers is planned to be available for viewing in one of the houses.