GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia Poultry Federation’s annual concert and dinner event on Oct. 24 was a fun-filled evening under the stars featuring country music singer-songwriters.
For the second year the annual function, now known as “City Lights,” took place in the Federation’s hometown of Gainesville, Ga., at the Smithgall Arts Center. The event was held for decades in the Atlanta, Ga., area and was named the “Night of Knights,” as well as affectionately among many as the “Chicken Prom.” Then following COVID, the event was held outside, open air, at Lake Lanier Islands in Buford, Ga., and became “Georgia Poultry Strong.”
“We are very thankful to everyone who supported and attended our 2026 City Lights concert fundraiser,” Mike Giles, GPF president, said. “City Lights builds on decades of tradition with the Night of Knights and Georgia Poultry Strong events, and it has been fun to return the event to Gainesville, the ‘Poultry Capital of the World.’”
The entertainment for the evening began with up-and-coming country music performer Faith Hopkins who sang a number of her original songs.
The headliners for the City Lights event were singer-songwriters Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson, who have recorded their own music, as well as, individually and collaboratively, written several hit songs for top country music acts. Among the performers who have recorded their songs include Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Joe Nichols and Lee Brice.
Akins was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in June; and Davidson is an Academy of Country Music Songwriter of the Year award winner.
For more information about the Georgia Poultry Federation and its events, visit https://gapf.org.
