As tribute photos pour in from well-wishers, the images form a mosaic of the former president.

As tribute photos pour in from well-wishers in honor of Carter's 99th birthday, the images form a mosaic of the former president.

Credit: Carter Center / Picture Mosaics

Jimmy Carter celebrates a big birthday this Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, and messages are pouring in from around the world.

Carter and wife Rosalynn made a surprise appearance at the Peanut Festival last week in Plains, Ga., where the pair was spotted waving from the back seat of a Chevrolet Surburban. Although Jimmy Carter has been under hospice care since February and is not expected to participate in any official events the weekend to mark his birthday, he is aware of the good wishes.

In the weeks leading up to Carter's birthday, the Carter Center's '#JimmyCarter99' campaign has engaged celebrities, world leaders and many Georgians in extending their best regards for the 2002 Nobel Peace laureate.

From a shoutout by former President Bill Clinton to citizen videos, a larger-than-life photo mosaic, local food trucks and a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens, here's how Georgians and people around the globe plan to celebrate the 99th birthday or America's 39th president. (Scroll down for a schedule of events open to the public this weekend.)

 

Former POTUS Bill Clinton sent Carter a special message from New York:

Singer and fellow member of The Elders, Peter Gabriel, sang "Happy birthday" to Carter along with 18,000 fans at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sept. 18, and Atlanta's own Indigo Girls did the same during their concert on Sept. 24. Georgia musician Chuck Leavell, current keyboardist music director for the Rolling Stones and a former member of the Allman Brothers Band who befriended Carter in the 1970s, posed in a blue '99' cap to deliver his birthday message.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also donned the special Carter cap to send his wishes, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. 

Hollywood is in on the action, too. Part-time Atlantan and Oscar winner Jane Fonda recalled how the former president taught her to fly fish:

Actor Martin Sheen performed a monologue and prayer in honor of Carter:
 

Jeff Daniels performed a medley including a variation of "Georgia On My Mind" on acoustic guitar for Carter:

Sports venues and landmarks including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Corey Tower also participated in the birthday campaign:

For more than 40 years at the Carter Center, Jimmy Carter has worked to wage peace, foster free and fair elections and democracy, eliminate diseases and inspire good works across the planet.

“All of us want to wish President Carter a very happy 99th birthday and to thank him for a lifetime of service,” Paige Alexander, chief executive officer at the Carter Center, said in a statement. “President Carter has made it his mission in life to build a healthier, more peaceful world. Now we all have the chance to tell him what his vision, honesty, and compassion have meant to us.”

Friday through Sunday, the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum and the Carter Center are co-hosting Jimmy Carter’s 99th Birthday Celebration at the Carter Presidential Center on John Lewis Freedom Parkway in Atlanta.

Here's the schedule of activities:

Friday, Sept. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • See Carter's digital birthday mosaic on a large, outdoor video screen filled with more than 11,500 birthday messages for President Carter. Messages are being collected via the CarterCenter.org website from well-wishers all over the world. See the online mosaic and upload your photo.
  • Visitors can upload their birthday tributes in person via a QR code and watch video and photo tributes from others, including musicians, actors, artists, authors, and political leaders.

Saturday, Sept. 30, noon to 4 p.m.

  • 99-cent admission to the Museum in honor of Carter’s 99th birthday
  • Birthday cake and family-friendly games and crafts at the Museum Lobby and outside
  • Screening of All the President's Men at 1 p.m. at the Museum Theater
  • Trivia at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Museum Lobby
  • Food trucks on-site in the Library parking area
  • Continued display of interactive birthday mosaic from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 1

  • Naturalization service to welcome 99 new U.S. citizens in honor of President Carter’s 99th birthday at 10 a.m.
  • Continued display of the interactive birthday mosaic from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Note: if a U.S. Government shutdown is averted, activities at the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum will continue on Sunday, including 99-cent admission.

Tags: Jimmy Carter  Georgia