11-27-2023 4:27am

Fun Things to Do this Week in Macon and Middle Georgia

Nate Weeks Editor

The Grinch was a special guest at the Main Street Gray Hometown Christmas Market (Photographer Nate Weeks)

There will be many gift-buying opportunities, free concerts, an evening of First Friday festivities in Downtown Macon, and much more taking place this week in Middle Georgia. The following are just a few of the fun, and mostly free, things to do in the next seven days.

MONDAY, November 27

The Holiday Show at the Macon Arts Alliance (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

The Macon Arts Alliance opened their annual holiday art exhibit this past Saturday and it will stay open through Friday, December 22nd. The Holiday Show features “small gifts, ornaments, holiday decor, stationary, and more”. The Macon Christmas Lights Extravaganza will also be taking place on the hour from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m., so make sure to stop by and see the more than a million lights blinking along with festive Christmas music.

- Macon Arts Alliance - 484 1st Street, Macon

Mercer University Wind Ensemble and Brass Band Present “Fanfares & Symphonies” at the Grand Opera House (7:30 p.m.)

Mercer University’s Wind Ensemble and Brass Band will perform

at this concert in the historic Grand Opera House. Brittan Braddock and Nathan Gay will be conducting and the Wind Ensemble will be performing the dramatic Third Symphony from composer James Barnes. This concert is free and open to the public.

- Grand Opera House - 638 Walnut Street, Macon

TUESDAY, November 28

Photos with Santa at the Houston County Galleria in Warner Robins (3 - 7 p.m.)

Santa will be taking time out of his busy schedule to take some pictures with some good boys and girls on Tuesday. He will also be coming back to the mall through December 24th as well.

- Houston County Galleria - 2922 Watson Boulevard, Macon

Grand Opening of Board & Brush Creative Studio in Macon (4 - 8 p.m.)

Board & Brush will be having their Grand Opening celebration on Tuesday with gift bags and workshop coupons for the first 50 guests. There will also be an educational workshop showing the steps in making a sign, food from local makers, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

- Board & Brush Creative Studio - 6255 Zebulon Road, Macon

WEDNESDAY, November 29

Magnolia Soap Box Derby Open Meeting at Fall Line Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)

If you have ever been curious about what it takes to make the popular Magnolia Soap Box Derby take place every year in April, this event is for you. The public is invited to come learn more about the Magnolia Soap Box Derby and find out about opportunities to volunteer and be on the board. This event is free and open to the public.

- Fall Line Brewing Co. - 567 Plum Street, Macon

Macon Mental Health Matters Presents “Choosing Peace” at the Booker T. Washington Community Center (4 - 5 p.m.)

This event presented by Macon Mental Health Matters is for young people and those who want to bring more peace to their communities. Attendees will develop and improve conflict resolution skills and other life skills.

- Booker T. Washington Community Center - 401 Monroe Street, Macon

THURSDAY, November 30

Sidney’s Salon with Author Gordon Johnston: Seven Islands of the Ocmulgee (5:30 p.m.)

Author Gordon Johnston will speak about his seven river stories that draw on Native American, African American, and European American traditions and history. The stories were written by Johnston after he canoed the Ocmulgee and its tributaries and are set from the 1810’s to the present. This event is free to attend but preregistration is requested.

- Historic Macon Foundation - 950 3rd Street, Macon

FRIDAY, December 1

First Friday in Downtown Macon

The last First Friday event of the year will take place this Friday in Downtown Macon and will include multiple special events including:

The Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza will have shows at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. There will also be carriage rides that depart from the fountain at Third Street and Cherry Street taking place every weekend in December from 6 to 10 p.m.
NewTown Macon will host Donate S’more Love from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. between Second Street and Third Street with individually packaged s’mores. They will also be holding a donation drive and will be accepting new travel-size deodorants, tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, conditioners, and soaps.
The First Friday Art Crawl will take place at multiple art galleries: The Macon Arts Alliance’s annual The Holiday Show will be open for shoppers and art lovers (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.). The 567 Center for Renewal, which will have their 8th annual Favorite Things exhibit with artwork for $100 and under (5 - 8 p.m.). The Green Light Gallery will present the After The Wall Art Exhibit with Mercer University with art created by migrants during an art workshop and photos by Mercer students (6 p.m.). Finally, Gallery West will be hosting a holiday pop-up show with artwork from local artists and items starting at $5 (5 p.m.).
The 1940’s Radio Hour will open at Theatre Macon with big band music and festive themes. The production will run through December 10th. Tickets start at $15 for students and $20 for adults.
There will be plenty of live music to enjoy as well, including from the rock bands Seven Year Itch and Hego Crazyboy at The Hummingbird (10 p.m.) and Macon's West Ridge Circle at JBA (10 p.m.)

- Downtown Macon

Screening of Dr Suess’s The Grinch at Perry’s Fall Film Series (6 - 10 p.m.)

Perry’s Fall Film Series continues this Friday with a screening of the family comedy film The Grinch. There will be free popcorn, family-friendly activities, and food trucks at this event. Outside coolers are also permitted and lawn chairs or blankets are recommended. The movie will begin at sunset. This event may be cancelled due to bad weather or other conditions, so be sure to check the Facebook event post before heading out. This event is free and open to the public.

- 1121 Macon Road, Perry

Macon Mayhem vs. Birmingham Bulls Hockey Game at the Macon Coliseum (7 p.m.)

Macon’s very own professional hockey team will face off against the Birmingham Bulls this Friday. If you aren’t able to make the game on Friday, they will be playing against the team again on Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the Friday game start at $14 on ticketmaster.com.

- Grand Opera House - 651 Mulberry Street, Macon

Mercer Percussion Ensemble at Mercer’s Townsend School of Music (7:30 p.m.)

The Townsend School of Music’s Percussion Ensemble will perform both traditional and non-traditional percussion music using instruments like the vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, and more. This concert is free and open to the public.

- Townsend School of Music - 1329 Adams Street, Macon

Georgia College’s 16th Annual Holiday Concert in Milledgeville (7:30 p.m.)

Georgia College’s entire music department will take part in this concert with “old favorites and new tunes” performed by the college’s Wind Symphony, String Quartet, Double Bass Quartet, Saxophone Choir, Orchestra, Women’s Ensemble, MNS Bass Quartet, and more. Tickets to the Holiday Concert are free but a $10 donation per ticket is encouraged.

- Russell Auditorium - 197 N. Clarke Street, Milledgeville

SATURDAY, December 2

Festival of Trees at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins (9 a.m.)

The Museum of Aviation will be decked out for the holidays with decorated Christmas Trees at the Festival of Trees. Attendees are invited to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters and take pictures with their favorite tree. This event is free and open to the public.

- Museum of Aviation - 1994 Heritage Boulevard, Warner Robins

2023 City of Warner Robins Christmas Parade (10 a.m.)

Warner Robins’s Christmas Parade will start at the parking lot of McConnell-Talbert Stadium on South Davis Drive, which is located across from the Warner Robins High School, and end on Watson Boulevard and Houston Road by the Houston Healthcare Pavilion. This holiday event is free and open to the public.

- Warner Robins

City of Warner Robins Winter Bazaar (12 - 5 p.m.)

The City of Warner Robins and Visit Warner Robins will host a festive Winter Bazaar on Saturday. The Winter Bazaar will include live music, vendors, food trucks, a visit from Santa, games, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

- Perkins Field and Wellston Center - 155 Maple Street, Warner Robins

Flapjacks & Flannel at The Society Garden (12 - 3 p.m.)

This event will include a “full flapjack menu” from Society Garden’s on-site restaurant, Liliana’s as well as bonfires, s’mores kits, hot toddies, and more.

- The Society Garden - 2389 Ingleside Avenue, Macon

stARTup Studios Holiday Sale (1 - 8 p.m.)

stARTup Studios will be having a Holiday Sale from December 1st through December 18th which will include lots of handmade art, ceramics, and more. Shoppers will receive 20% off of all items created by Blazing Paddles Studios, Lindsey Hopkins, Lumber and In, and Yen-Ting Chiu Ceramics, as well as 20% of all prints and stickers and 10% of original paintings by artist Elliot Hilton. This event is free to attend and open to the public.

- stARTup Studios - 1055 Riverside Drive, Macon

Winter Fest 2023: Volume 1 with Young Nudy, Nardo Wick, Luh Tyler, and Big Charm at the Macon City Auditorium (7 p.m.)

Young Nudy, Nardo Wick, Luh Tyler, and Big Charm will perform at the Macon City Auditorium on Saturday evening at the Winter Fest 2023: Volume 1. Tickets for this concert start at $35 on ticketmaster.com.

- Macon City Auditorium - 415 First Street, Macon

SEC Championship Viewing Party at The Hummingbird (4 p.m.)

Football fans are invited to come to The Hummingbird to watch Georgia and Alabama play against each other in the SEC Championship on Saturday. The bar and music venue will offer Happy Hour prices from 4 to 8 p.m.

- The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom - 430 Cherry Street, Macon

SUNDAY, December 3

Dark Chocolate Nutcracker at The Douglas Theatre (3:30 p.m.)

The “Dark Chocolate Nutcracker” takes the classic “The Nutcracker” and mixes in jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. This production is produced by Vision Elite Royalty. General Admission tickets to the Dark Chocolate Nutcracker cost $25 (tickets for Douglass Theatre members are $15 only at the Douglass’ box office or by calling (478) 742-2000).

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