Trans Am Takeover: October event to celebrate ‘Smokey and the Bandit’
by By Anthony Rhoads anthony.rhoads@news-daily.com Aug 20, 2025
JONESBORO — Several of the scenes in the 1977 movie “Smokey and the Bandit” were filmed in Jonesboro and an upcoming fall event will highlight the town’s contributions to the movie.
Downtown Jonesboro will be a stop during The Trans Am Takeover weekend Oct. 17 to 19.
The first day will be at Tara Theatre in Atlanta, the second in Jonesboro and the third in Stone Mountain.
A glance at some of the activities planned for the Saturday, Oct. 18 event in downtown Jonesboro:
— About 100 to 200 Trans Ams and replica vehicles, include the Snowman semi-truck and trailer.
— Local vendors and food trucks (with priority for Jonesboro-based vendors).
— Filming location tours highlighting Jonesboro’s movie heritage.
— An Arts Clayton Gallery display of original memorabilia and estate items.
— The Bandits band performing Jerry Reed’s music from the movie.
— Family-friendly activities and fan meet-and-greets.
The Trans Am Takeover weekend begins in Atlanta Friday, Oct. 17 at Tara Theatre with a red carpet recreation, VIP arrivals and a presentation of “The Making of Smokey and the Bandit”.
The Stone Mountain event on Sunday, Oct. 19 will feature a car cruise to Stone Mountain with stops at several filming locations along the way.
♦ ♦ ♦
In June of 2017, the late Burt Reynolds was in Jonesboro as part of a two celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the movie.
Then-Jonesboro Mayor Joy Day presented Reynolds with a key to the city at Lee Street Park and declared June 24 as Burt Reynolds Day.
Then-Clayton County Commission Chair Jeff Turner presented Reynolds with a proclamation for his contributions to Clayton County.
Reynolds died in September of 2018 at the age of 82.
In 2019, a team from the Burt Reynolds Film Institute made a special surprise visit to Jonesboro. During that visit, they brought Reynolds’ personal 1979 Pontiac Trans Am and the car driven by Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the movie.
♦ ♦ ♦
During its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, the Jonesboro City Council unanimously approved a road closure to accommodate the Oct. 18 event.
The road closure will be on Broad Street and South Main Street, from the Lawyers’ Office at 102 S. Main St. to Arts Clayton at 136 S. Main St.
