Cynthia Rozzo, Publisher of the EAST COBBER magazine and producer of the EAST COBBER Parade + Festival, announced that this year’s Parade + Festival has been cancelled. The last parade hosted in East Cobb was in 2019.  The EAST COBBER Parade + Festival in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to COVID restrictions. 

For decades, the EAST COBBER Parade + Festival was held the third Saturday every September. The EAST COBBER extended its mission of building a sense of community by establishing a hometown tradition of a community parade and festival back in 1993. As the producers of the first parade and festival in East Cobb County, the EAST COBBER created a showcase event and annual tradition for East Cobb County. The EAST COBBER Parade + Festival had become the largest parade in all of Cobb County and was the only community-wide event for East Cobb.

Because the EAST COBBER Parade & Festival is privately funded, contributions from local businesses are vital to keeping this tradition alive in East Cobb County. Mrs. Rozzo cited the cost of insurance and security as well as associated financial changes for sponsors were big reasons for cancelling this year’s EAST COBBER Parade + Festival. The parade and its accompanying festivities are funded through contributions from community members and local businesses, according to Mrs. Rozzo. The EAST COBBER does not receive taxpayer funding. 

Cynthia Rozzo, founder/publisher of the EAST COBBER magazine since 1993 and the founder of the EAST COBBER Parade & Festival, announced her retirement last month. “… with the sale of my business- the EAST COBBER magazine and the special event—the new owner needed more lead time to produce the special event properly.”

East Cobb residents should expect to see the return of the annual hometown tradition next year.