10-02-2023 10:19am

Your Weekly Guide to Fun and Unique Events in Middle Georgia

Nate Weeks Editor

The Peanut Butter Whiskey Band rocked and rolled at last weekend's Pride in the Park (Photographer Nate Weeks)

The first full week of October will be bringing slightly lower temperatures along with plenty of fun things to do. This week's events include a night of scares at Jester's Halloween Yard Haunt on Monday, performances from talented musicians on Wednesday, lots of events during Downtown Macon's First Friday celebration, the start of this year's Georgia National Fair, and the All Hands Art Festival. The following are just a select few of the interesting events taking place this week in Middle Georgia.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2

Jester’s Halloween Yard Haunt (5 - 9 p.m.)

October is here and for those whose favorite holiday is Halloween it is never too early to start getting spooky. Jester’s Halloween Yard Haunt opens on Monday and this event is presented by the one and only Jester Jangles. Visitors will take a stroll through Jester’s front and back yards where they can expect to be spooked by an actor with a chainsaw and see plenty of creepy decorations. Each child who wears an outfit to this event will receive two free pieces of candy while supplies last. Admission to Jester’s Halloween Yard Haunt is $5 per person.

- Jester’s Halloween Yard Haunt - 252 Decatur Avenue, Macon

TUEDSAY, OCTOBER 3

Bike Walk Macon’s Fundamentals of Bicycling at Carolyn Crayton Park (6 - 8 p.m.)

Bike Walk Macon is presenting a free, two-part course about bicycling with the first part of the course taking part this Tuesday. The class will teach attendees the correct way to power start, shift gears, and can your environment while pedaling, according to Bike Walk Macon. The second part of the course will take place on October 10th. This class is free for adults 18 years old and older but you must pre-register to attend.

- Carolyn Crayton Park - 150 Willie Smokie Glover Drive, Macon

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4

Mercer University Wind Ensemble - Fall Side-by-Side at the Academy for Classical Education (7:30 p.m.)

The Academy of Classical Education (ACE) Senior High Band along with the Mercer University Wind Ensemble will perform a fall concert together on Wednesday. The musicians will play music like the English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Diamond Tide by Viet Cuong, Splinter by Holly Harrison, and more. Admission to this concert is free and open to the public.

- Academy for Classical Education - 5665 New Forsyth Road, Macon

Sarah Lee Guthrie at Capricorn Sound Studios (7:30 p.m.)

Sarah Lee Guthrie, the daughter of Arlo Guthrie and the granddaughter of Woody Guthrie, started her career in music as a road manager for her father right after high school. She then went on to have her own successful career as a folksinger. Tickets to see Sarah Lee Guthrie perform at the Capricorn Sound Studios this Wednesday cost $35.

- Capricorn Sound Studios and Museum - 540 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Macon

The creative official music video for Sarah Lee Guthrie’s song “Honey and Due” was uploaded to her YouTube channel earlier this year

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5

Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party at The Capitol Theatre (8 p.m.)

Swifties unite: the Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party will feature the songbird’s music along with synchronized lasers and lights for an enjoyable dancing environment. While Swift herself will not be present, a DJ will be playing all of her most popular music. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the dancing begins at 8 p.m. Tickets to the Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party start at $18 online.

- Capitol Theatre - 382 Second Street, Macon

The Black Jacket Symphony presents “Saturday Night Fever” at the Macon City Auditorium (8 p.m.)

The Black Jacket Symphony has performed more than 40 classic rock albums in their entirety for their audiences. This Thursday they will be performing the soundtrack to the 1977 movie “Saturday Night Fever” at the Macon City Auditorium. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. and the disco fever will start at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to see the Black Jacket Symphony in concert cost from $12.25 online at the time of publication.

- Macon City Auditorium - 415 First Street, Macon

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

2nd Annual Fair Food Fight at the Georgia National Fair in Perry (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

The Georgia National Fair is back in Perry starting this Thursday and they will be presenting a Fair Food Fight on Friday consisting of tastings and judging of foods that will be available at the fair. This year some of the foods that will be for sale to fair goers will include Cheddar Nuggets, a Gator Tail Basket, Cream Cheese Jalapeño Poppers, Dippin Dots Ice Cream. Fair admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (60 years and older), and free for children under 10 with an adult ticket.

- Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter - 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry

October First Friday in Downtown Macon (4 p.m.)

Downtown Macon’s First Friday celebrations are full of opportunities to hear live music, see artwork from a wide variety of talented artists, and take part in the special events that take place at various businesses. This First Friday will include the opening of Ric Geyer’s exhibit “3 Looks” from 4 to 7 p.m., which will be the first ever furniture gallery at the Macon Arts Alliance, NewTown Macon’s Family Fun Zone from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Third Street Park, live music in front of The Bohemian Den from 7 to 9 p.m., and outdoor art such as “Fanning the Flames” (the fifth rendition of the Bright City Initiative) in the alley by NewTown Macon’s office from 7 to 9 p.m. as well as indoor art in galleries such as the “Ocmulgee to Okmulgee” art show at Mercer University’s MacEMcEachernachern Art Center from 4 to 8 p.m. Several restaurants and businesses will also offer special deals during October’s First Friday, such as Hotel Forty Five’s restaurant Loom, which will have flatbread specials and some drinks for $5.

- Downtown Macon

Quill Cocktail Bar One Year Anniversary Party (5 p.m. - 12 a.m.)

Quill Cocktail Bar is throwing a party to celebrate their one year anniversary this Friday night. Guests are requested to wear outfits that would have been worn in a 1920s speakeasy as that is how the bar will be decorated for this special event. There will also be handcrafted specialty cocktails, dancing, and music at this celebratory event.

- Quill at The Woodward - 350 Second Street, Macon

Fall Film Series “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in Perry (6 - 9:30 p.m.)

The City of Perry and Visit Perry present another outdoor movie experience during their Fall Film Series at this screening of the comedy/action movie “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) on Friday evening. There will be family-friendly activities and free popcorn as well as food trucks, according to the organizers. Outside coolers are allowed at this event and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or camping chairs to get comfortable during the event. This event is free and open to the public and the movie screening starts around sunset.

- 1121 Macon Road, Perry

All Hands Art Festival VIP Party at The 567 Center for Renewal (7 - 9 p.m.)

The weekend long All Hands Art Festival kicks off on Friday with a VIP party at the 567. The festival will be a celebration of artwork made of clay, glass, metal, or wood and the VIP Party will give art connoisseurs a chance to hang out with the talented artists while enjoying hors d’oeuvres from the Fountain of Juice, cold drinks from Fall Line Brewing, and live music from Matt Moncrief. Tickets to the VIP party cost $31.99 while tickets for either Saturday or Sunday are $7 for adults and free for children under 12.

- Reboot Retrocade & Bar - 566 Cherry Street, Macon

Macon Macabre Tour in Downtown Macon (8 - 9:30 p.m.)

Rock Candy Tours will be presenting a 1.5 hour walking tour that will visit several “ghastly [and] ghostly” locations in Downtown Macon on Friday night. The tour will focus on the macabre history of Downtown’s nightlife and businesses, so this tour is not recommended for children. Tickets to the Macon Macabre Tour cost $20 per person and the tour will start at Just Tap’d.

- Just Tap’d - 488 First Street, Macon

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

Fall and Fossil Fest at the Museum of Arts and Sciences (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Macon’s Museum of Arts and Sciences will be celebrating International Fossil Day this Saturday with fun outdoor games, activities revolving around fossils, dinosaur themed planetarium shows, and more. Guests are invited to bring their own pumpkins to carve and decorate and then leave the leftovers for the museum’s animals to enjoy. Tickets to the Fall and Fossil Fest come with regular admission to the museum.

- Museum of Arts and Sciences - 4182 Forsyth Road, Macon

All Hands Art Festival at the Grand Opera House (12 - 6 p.m.)

The All Hands Art Festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Opera House. This art filled, family-friendly event will include artists competing against each other in the Art Olympics, demonstrations by potters and glass artists, live music, and art/craft vendors. The festival will continue on Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m., where attendees will be able to see the artists completed works for the Art Olympics and vote for their favorites. Tickets for either Saturday or Sunday are $7 for adults and free for children under 12.

- Grand Opera House - 651 Mulberry Street, Macon

Play Streets Macon on Main Street (2 - 5 p.m.)

Bike Walk Macon, Macon200, and Open Street Macon are teaming up for this Play Streets Macon which will include music, interactive family-friendly activities with local artists, lawn games, a traffic calming mural installation, and even an “outdoor living room”, according to the organizers. This event is free and open to the public and encourages the community to get outdoors and enjoy a park like environment on what is usually a more dangerous place to play.

- Main Street (Clinton Street to Hydrolia Street) , Macon

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

Macon Film Festival Screening of “Flora and Son” at the Douglass Theatre (2 and 5 p.m.)

The Macon Film Festival will present two screenings of the R rated musical/comedy/romance/drama film “Flora and Son” this Sunday. This film received acclaim from famed critic Roger Ebert and others and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a story about the “transformative power of music”. Tickets to see either screening of “Flora and Son” cost $5.

- Douglass Theatre - 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Macon

Second Sunday Concert with Sean Solo on Coleman Hill (6 - 8 p.m.)

Bragg Jam presents another concert in the Second Sunday Concert series this week, with a performance from Sean Solo on Downtown Macon’s Coleman Hill. Guests are invited to bring their camping chairs, picnics, and leashed/well-behaved dogs to this family-friendly event. Bragg Jam's Second Sunday Concerts are free and open to the public.

- Coleman Hill - 285 Spring Street, Macon