The 2021 Doc Holliday Festival Attracted Special Guests to Griffin, Georgia

September 15, 2021

The 2021 Doc Holliday Festival Attracted Special Guests to Griffin, Georgia

Honorary Consulate of Hungary Sir John Parkerson, Mayor of Griffin Doug Hollberg, City Commissoner Holly Murray and Honorary Consulate of Denmark Sir Christopher Smith visit Historic Walker Hill prior to the Doc Holliday Festival.

Born August 14, 1851, the story of John Henry “Doc” Holliday begins in Griffin, Georgia. The Hollidays lived in Griffin the first 13 years of Doc’s life. They headed to Valdosta in 1864 in efforts to escape Sherman’s March to the Sea. Following his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine – yes, he was an Ivy Leaguer - Doc returned to Griffin and established a dental practice downtown. However, his return did not last long as he soon headed west to Texas. There, Holliday met Hungarian-born Mary Katherine Horony Cummings, known as Big Nose Kate, who became his longtime companion and common-law wife.

While fact and fiction have blurred with time, Griffin’s noble, native son is celebrated with the Doc Holliday Festival in September.

This year's festival was honored with a visit from the Honorary Consulate of Hungary, Sir John Parkerson and the Honorary Consulate of Denmark, Sir Christopher Smith - both are Knights, too.

Highlights below:

Christopher Parkerson and his father the Honorary Consulate of Hungary Sir John Parkerson.

Honorary Consulate of Denmark Sir Christopher Smith.

Honorary Consulate of Denmark Sir Christopher Smith, Honorary Consulate of Hungary Sir John Parkerson and Christopher Parkerson enjoy a visit to Doc Holliday's Saloon, which was the location of his dental office in Historic Downtown Griffin.