Larry Brannon was making his way around the tables when one particular design caught his eye.

"Hey," he shouted to Ed From, who was on the other side of the room. "Norman Rockwell submitted an entry."

The men served on an eight-person committee that met Wednesday to pick the design that will grace T-shirts and posters for Suwanee Day, which takes place Sept. 20 at Town Center Park. More about that celebration —- and the winning entry —- later.

The Badie Tour stopped by City Hall to inquire about an interactive event that unfolds this weekend. It's the inaugural "Life is good in Suwanee Festival," set for noon to 9 p.m. Saturday in the park.

Definitely check it out if you've never played hoops with a rubber chicken or horseshoes with a toilet seat and plunger. The festival highlight, though, will be the "World's Greatest Backyard Athlete" competition.

Eighteen people will compete in a series of events, including a watermelon seed-spitting contest, burger building and a potato sack race.

Remember the name DeWayne Davis. He expects to rule the sack race, if not the coveted crown.

"Maybe," said Davis, chuckling.

In all seriousness, Davis said he decided to suit up for a good cause.

See, each athlete either contributed, raised or had someone sponsor him or her for $500. That money, along with all proceeds from festival sales and an auction, will go to the Life is good Kids Foundation Inc., a Boston-based nonprofit. It helps plan charity festivals like Suwanee's across the country.

The foundation distributes money to nonprofits that serve children. Suwanee's proceeds will benefit Project Joy, a 19-year-old, Boston-based nonprofit that helps kids (think Hurricane Katrina victims) recover from trauma through play. Training and resources are provided to educators, child-care providers and other professionals who work with children.

Amy Doherty, Suwanee's events coordinator, said local organizers hope the festival nets $10,000. The money will be used to set up a Project Kids program in metro Atlanta.

"The money stays in metro Atlanta," Doherty told me. "This is the first time we have done anything like this, but the big thing about this nonprofit is that it has credibility. That makes a big difference."

From, one of the judges for the Suwanee Day Celebration design, doesn't doubt the event will succeed. After all, this is Suwanee, ranked by Money Magazine as the 10th-best small community to live in. Town Center Park, located off Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, basically serves as the town's front yard. It's the locale for community concerts, movies, fun. Children frolic daily in the Big Splash interactive fountain.

"Everybody loves the park," noted From, a local business owner and part-time actor. "If it's not raining, we'll have a good turnout Saturday. I've never seen anything up here not have a good turnout."

Now, back to choosing a commemorative design for Suwanee Day. This was no willy-nilly, knee-jerk decision. Judges started poring over the 73 prints at 10 a.m. Wednesday. A winner was not voted on till an hour and a half later.

"We're going to be a while," mused Doherty, after the top choices had been narrowed. "May as well sit down."

One by one, designs were critiqued, then rejected. "Too professional." "Too busy." "Too much clip art."

Then, the winner: A design by Ashleigh James of Buford that featured symbols of music, art, nature and good times.

"This is a big year," said Suwanee spokeswoman Lynne DeWilde. "The 25th celebration. We want everybody to know about it."

For more information about the "Life is good in Suwanee Festival," contact Suwanee City Hall at 770-945-8996. Online: www.projectjoy.com; www.lifeisgood.com.

Rick Badie's column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-270-5235 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.