17th annual Unity in the Community brings food, fun to Albany

ALBANY – The Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office will be serving up barbecue chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and more on Saturday as the department brings people together to celebrate in downtown Albany.

“This is the 17th annual Unity in the Community barbecue,” Capt. Ronnye Nelson said. “Thils will be the second one hosted by Sheriff (Terron) Hayes.”

The 2026 Unity in the Community event is scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Riverfront Park in the 100 block of North Front Street. There is no cost for participants.

“We think it’s the perfect time to have a barbecue with all the violence in the community,” Nelson said. “It’s a chance to come together and do something positive.”

In addition to the food, there will be activities for youngsters. As of Wednesday, more than 20 vendors had signed up to bring out their wares, including jewelry and treats like ice cream.

The sheriff’s office served more than 800 participants in 2025, and is hoping to top that number on Saturday.

“With food so high and food-insecurity so high in the community, this will be a great time for parents to bring their kids out for free food and free games and hang out with the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office,” Nelson said. “People are struggling. We are prepared to feed over 1,000 people. We’re expecting a big turnout this year.”

Assisting the sheriff’s office with the cooking will be the Pride of Albany 360 Masonic Lodge and Sons of Solomon Motorcycle Club.

The 2026 unity event will honor late sheriff’s Capt. Ted Thomas, who died two days after the 2024 barbecue. 

“It’s for all the things he did for the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office,” Nelson said.