Tuesday Talk: Peachtree Road Race history; Uncle Luke's a-coming

Tuesday Talk rounds up the latest Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) news you might have missed and also points forward to upcoming events on our campus.

One of Atlanta’s most-enduring Fourth of July traditions – the Peachtree Road Race – is a little more than a week away, but you can get a crash course in its history with a traveling exhibit on display at the GWCCA’s downtown campus.

Celebrating what will be the 50th edition of the Peachtree Road Race, this museum-quality exhibit is on display outside of the Georgia World Congress Center’s (GWCC) C-1 Exhibit Hall.

Why is a traveling exhibit about the world’s largest 10K race on display at the GWCC, you ask?

The exhibit pretty much answers that question. It’s because the Peachtree Health and Fitness Expo, where participants pick up their race packets, shop for official merchandise, browse exhibit booths offering the latest running gear, along with various other activities, is slated for July 2-3 inside the C-1 Exhibit Hall.

As noted in the 50th-anniversary exhibit’s panels (see picture above), the pre-race expo moved to the GWCC in 2012.

The display – which features a historical timeline of the race, also includes some glass-encased memorabilia, including the first example of the traditional finisher T-shirt (a badge of honor for race participants) from 1971, a collection of race numbers/bibs through the years, and the Peachtree’s first-ever first place finisher trophy from 1970.

The exhibit, and the expo, are free and open to the public.

SAY UNCLE

Announced Monday, the Godfather of the Sunshine State’s rap scene, Uncle Luke (Luther Campbell) of 2 Live Crew fame, has joined the artist lineup for ONE Musicfest set for Sept. 7-8 at Centennial Olympic Park.

The Atlanta-based festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is making its Centennial Olympic Park debut.

Other acts performing at the 2-day event include: Gucci Mane, Rae Sremmurd, Tory Lanez, Rick Ross, DMX, Wu-Tang Clan, Three 6 Mafia, KP The Great and His Superfriends (including Usher and Pharrell Williams), and the Florida All-Stars, where Uncle Luke will join the previously announced T-Pain, Trick Daddy and Trina.

For the complete lineup, tickets and more info, go to www.onemusicfest.com.

THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS

Today (June 25), the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association, the state’s non-partisan lodging industry association, hosts the annual Georgia Lodging Industry Forecast and HotelFest at the GWCC’s Building A. According to its event page, the program includes an “executive level summary of what lies ahead for Georgia’s lodging industry” for the next 18 months.

Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo returns to the GWCC opening Wednesday (June 26) with more than 100,000 square feet of exhibition space in Hall A2 and A3. The expo, described as the premier venue for equipment manufacturers to display their products and services to the wood processing industry, and a forum for discussing trends and discovering new technologies, runs through Friday (June 28) and is expecting 3,000 attendees.

Also in Building A, Fire Atlanta 19, a Christian revival conference hosted by All Nations Church, featuring services, guest speakers and breakout sessions at Sidney Marcus Auditorium and the A300 level, is set for Thursday (June 27) through Sunday (June 30).

On Friday (June 28) evening, the Bayyinah Institute, dedicated to sharing the message and language of The Quran, hosts Story Night at the GWCC’s Meeting Rooms B401-402.

Atlanta United return to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium pitch for a match against Eastern Conference foe Montreal Impact on Saturday (June 29). Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Across Andrew Young International Blvd., the GWCCA’s neighbor State Farm Arena hosts WNBA action on Sunday (June 30) as the hometown Atlanta Dream take on New York Liberty. Tip-off is at 3 p.m.