Thousands gather for Easter Sunrise Service at Stone Mountain Park
One of the largest Easter Sunrise services brings thousands to Stone Mountain Park.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The annual tradition began in 1944, but has grown ever since.
Stone Mountain Park officials said more than 5,000 guests showed up Sunday for the 79th annual Easter Sunrise Service, making it one of the largest turnouts in recent years.
Many gathered to rejoice in the fellowship and the view.
TRENDING STORIES:
Lowe's, Target, others will be closed on Easter
16-year-old mother, daughter reported missing in DeKalb County
Popular beach vacation spot can 'no longer be a Spring Break town'
The park opened around 3 a.m., and people boarded the cable cars for the ride up to the looming landmark. They brought blankets, chairs and coffee, waiting for the morning light.
Around 7 a.m., the hour-long service began with music and prayers and the crowd sang along.
Two pastors delivered sermons in the non-denominational service.
Channel 2's Bryan Mims spoke to some attendees who traveled from across North Georgia to experience this setting on Easter morning.
'This is an amazing experience. This is my first time here. I've been trying to make it here the past two years, but I couldn't make it up here. But to be here in person, and all these people from different faiths, it's an amazing experience," attendee Wayne Dodrill said.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Stone Mountain Park attractions will be open today from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for guests to enjoy attractions and recreational activities at the park.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jacksonville's ACPS launches ‘Kitty Hall', a purrfect opportunity to foster kittens
The City of Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) hosts 'Kitty Hall', a foster event where participants can foster kittens. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The event will be at James Weldon Johnson Park on Friday, June 13, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. 'If you've ever wanted an easy, adorable way to support your city shelter, now's your chance', said ACPS. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'These kittens need a temporary place to crash for a week or two until they're old enough to be adopted. Fostering comes with extra perks—fosters can choose to adopt their kitten if they fall in love, and the shelter will take care of all the vet care before sending them home.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hundreds of metro Atlanta dads gather at the library weekly to promote reading
What started as one metro Atlanta dad wanting to bond with his daughter has quickly grown to a community of hundreds of fathers. Khari Arnold told Channel 2's Lori Wilson that he was looking for a way to bond with his daughter. 'I said, 'What can I do that is free, one, and that she will benefit from as well?'' Arnold said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] So he started taking his daughter to the library every weekend and posting it on social media. 'It hit me while I was doing it, to make it bigger than about my daughter and I, but to make it about the community,' he said. Since then, the Library Dads has grown to a community of more than 300 dads who can now lean on each other as they raise readers. TRENDING STORIES: Metro Atlanta parents 'made a dumb decision' by giving 1-year-old beer, report says Former 'RHOA' star Kim Zolciak, ex-Atlanta Falcon Kroy Biermann removed from mansion, court docs say Man's death deemed 'justifiable homicide' after confronting wife at Buckhead apartment, police say The Library Dads will celebrate their first anniversary of gathering together on Father's Day weekend. 'A Library someone who reads to their kids,' Arnold said. 'As humans, we naturally crave people who can relate to when it comes to fatherhood, we need people who have been through the journey as well.' Click here for details on the next Library Dads event. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bear activity shuts down north GA shelter near popular Appalachian Trail
Heads up, hikers. The USDA Forest Service is shutting down a camping shelter along the popular Appalachian Trail for the next couple of weeks. Officials say bears in the area of the Springer Mountain Shelter in Blue Ridge are getting bolder toward hikers and campers. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Because of their increased activity, the shelter will be closed until June 26 while the Georgia Department of Natural Resources assesses the situation. "Public safety is our highest priority. The Forest Service is working closely with Georgia DNR to monitor bear activity and implement necessary safety measures," officials wrote. TRENDING STORIES: SCOTUS rules on lawsuit from Atlanta family whose home was wrongly raided by the FBI Family kills woman's husband in self-defense at Buckhead apartment, police say Body found in a pond identified as Morehouse student who disappeared after crash The shelter is located near the Appalachian Trail, which stretches nearly 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in north Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says that more than 3 million people visit sections of the trail every year, and more 3,000 people will attempt to hike all 2,197.4 miles. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
