You may enjoy cherry blossoms or forsythia blooms, or maybe cotton candy and midway rides are more your cup of tea. It doesn’t matter. There are enough festivals and other annual events in the Midstate to keep you entertained year round.
If you like music, don’t miss Macon’s summer concert series called Braggjam. If old-timey arts and crafts are more to your liking, then the Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival, held each fall in Houston County, or Laurens County’s Possum Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival is the place to be.
The Midstate is also home to a pair of major fairs. The Georgia State Fair in Perry offers a modern midway and top-notch musical acts. Macon’s venerable State Fair, held in Central City Park, is more of the traditional fair complete with livestock exhibits and a sawdust midway.
Or, you can get down and dirty at the annual Redneck Games held in Laurens County, which also features an annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival that goes way beyond a day’s worth of celebrations
Here are a few of the festivals and events you should make sure not to miss.
International Cherry Blossom Festival: In addition to blossom tours, this early spring event includes concerts, parades, sporting events, carnival rides, hot air balloon show, art exhibits, animal shows, historic house tours, fireworks and free cherry ice cream. www.cbfmacon.com.
St. Patrick’s Festival: Since 1966 Dublin has been wearing the green to celebrate the Irish holiday, but they couldn’t fit everything into just one day so they celebrate for a whole month. Popular events include the St. Patrick’s parade, arts and crafts festival, Leprechaun Road Race, Main Street Munchies and more. www.saintpatricksfestival.com.
Forsythia Festival: Although Forsyth and the forsythia bush aren’t named after the same person, it seems like the obvious choice for this town’s festival flower. Bright yellow forsythia flowers explode every spring around the historic Forsyth courthouse square. This weekend festival in March includes an arts-and-crafts fair, a classic car show and a golf tournament. www.forsythiafestival.com.
Peaches to Beaches Yard Sale: Every second weekend in March, people all along the Golden Isles Parkway (U.S. Hwy 341) set up their booths for one of the South’s largest yard sales. Bargain hunters can travel from Perry all the way to Brunswick and the Golden Isles in their search for attic treasures. www.goldenislesparkway.com.
Dogwood Festival: Perry hosts this weekend festival in April honoring the native tree that sprouts clouds of white blossoms. Children’s activities, a craft fair and plenty of good food and music are available in historic downtown Perry. You can also cheer for your favorite entertainer in the Perry Idol talent contest. www.perrydogwoodfestival.com.
Pan African Festival: Presented by the Tubman African American Museum, this weeklong festival was founded in 1997 by local artist Chi Ezekwueche to promote unity and foster appreciation of African-influenced art and culture. Held in April, the festival includes African dancing, marching bands, exotic foods, singing groups, a film festival and a parade. www.tubmanmuseum.com.
Hawkinsville Harness Festival: Since the 1920s Hawkinsville has been the winter training center for harness horses from the northern United States and Canada. Every April the town hosts a festival celebrating this unique tradition with racing demonstrations as well as craft exhibits, reptile shows, fireworks and a battle of the bands. www.hawkinsvillechamber.org/festival.htm.
Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival: This prestigious craft fair is held every April and October in the piney woods between Perry and Warner Robins. It features nationally acclaimed artisans and craftsmen with an emphasis on old-fashioned skills. There are also magicians, storytellers, country cooking and plenty of activities for children. www.mossycreekfestival.com.
Georgia State Fair: For more than 150 years state fairs have been held in Macon. The Georgia State Fair was first held in Central City Park in 1871. The Macon Exchange Club took over management of the fair in 1942 and still donates the proceeds to local charities. The fair recently changed its schedule from fall to late April. The livestock shows, carnival rides, corndogs and funnel cakes make this fair a Middle Georgia tradition no matter what the season. www.georgiastatefair.org.
Old Clinton War Days: Historic Clinton, a hamlet in Jones County, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on Georgia’s Antebellum Trail. For two days in May the town becomes the site of the Battle of Griswoldville and Sunshine Church as hundreds of Civil War re-enactors converge to trade cannon fire. www.jonescounty.org.
Hillside Bluegrass Festival: For four days every May and September the Hillside Bluegrass RV Park near Cochran comes alive with music. In addition to performances from nationally known entertainers, there are musicians’ workshops and craft shows. www.hillsidebluegrassrvpark.com.
Daylily Festival: Every town needs a flower festival, and Gray chose daylilies. Held in early June, this weekend event offers arts and crafts, entertainment and a 5K run as well as plenty of food. www.graystationbht.com.
Peach Festival: This festival is held in June and begins in Byron with Fun on the Midway and fireworks. On the second weekend the festivities move to downtown Fort Valley where visitors can sample the world’s largest peach cobbler, listen to live entertainment and enjoy a parade as well as music and dancing. www.gapeachfestival.com.
Summer Redneck Games: What began as a spoof of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta has become a crowd-pleaser and media star. Clips from the Redneck Games in East Dublin have been seen on “Good Morning America,” “The Tonight Show” and all the major networks. Every July the games begin with the ceremonial lighting of the grill, and then highly trained rednecks compete in the hubcap hurl, bobbin’ for pig’s feet and the armpit serenade. www.summerredneckgames.com.
Bragg Jam: A concert series to honor the memories of two brothers and help the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail has grown into a full-blown major event and music festival. It takes place every July in different venues around downtown Macon including along the trail. www.braggjam.org.
Possum Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival: For more than 30 years craftsmen and artists have gathered in the Laurens County town of Dexter to display their work. Held in September, this weekend event kicks off with a country music show on Friday night then rolls into Saturday with arts-and-craft exhibits and other activities. www.possumhollowfair.com.
Ocmulgee Indian Celebration: Every September American Indians from several nations — including Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole — gather for a weekend homecoming celebration at the Ocmulgee National Monument. Traditional dance, music and crafts are exhibited to the public. www.nps.gov/ocmu/planyourvisit/events.htm.
Georgia National Fair: This is not your granddaddy’s fair. Held every October at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, this 10-day event has air-conditioned exhibition halls, an enormous midway with state-of-the-art rides, top-rated concerts and a laser show. www.georgianationalfair.com.
