Adventures in Middle Georgia: Fun Things to Do this Week in the Heart of Georgia

Summer is upon us and, if the heat doesn't convince you of that, the many events celebrating the arrival of the year's hottest month should. This week in the heart of Georgia, people will take time to honor those who sacrificed all, there will be several unique events as part of National Trails Day, and much more. The following are just a few of the adventures taking place in the heart of Georgia this week.

MONDAY, May 27th

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is a federal holiday to honor and mourn the armed forces members who died while serving their country. Many people take time on Memorial Day to visit graveyards and care for the final resting places of members of the armed forces. In contrast, many more get together and celebrate our freedoms by enjoying comfort foods and spending time with loved ones. 

Photo courtesy of Siva Seshappan

TUESDAY, May 28th

Free Health and Wellness Fair at the Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

The Health and Wellness Fair will include health screenings, blood pressure and glucose checks, HIV testing, free giveaways, and more. The North Central Health District, which is a part of the Georgia Department of Public Health, is hosting this community event.

 > Bloomfield-Gilead Recreations Center - 1931 Rocky Creek Road, Macon

WEDNESDAY, May 29th

END OF THE MIDDLE AGES DAY

May 29th is celebrated as End of the Middle Ages Day. It was on May 29th, 1453 that Constantinople fell to Ottoman invaders. The Middle Ages, also called the Dark Ages, were a time when cultural and scientific progress slowed. From about 500 to 1500 AD, superstition reigned, the bubonic plague killed around 20 million people, and poverty was the state most people lived in their whole lives. This is the reason the end of the Middle Ages is something to be celebrated, and to remind us that we don’t want to go back to such dark times.

THURSDAY, May 30th

Then & Now Walking Tour with the Historic Macon Foundation and NewTown Macon (5:30 p.m.)

This free tour will visit some of Macon's most known buildings, teach about some of the lesser-known places that are part of the city’s growth, and include speeches from people who have directly helped make Macon into the city it is today. The Then & Now Walking Tour will begin at NewTown Macon’s coworking space, The Office, next to the Bibb Theatre at 5:30 p.m. While this tour is free, space is limited and registration is required: you can register at this link.

 > 461 3rd Street, Macon

FRIDAY, May 31st

Soul Sights Historic Van Tour (11 a.m., 1:30 p.m.)

Visit Macon is presenting a unique van tour of several historical locations around Macon through December 28th every Friday and Saturday. Tickets to the Soul Sights tour cost $8 for adults or $7 for seniors, children under 18, military members, and Macon residents. You can purchase tickets for this tour at this link.

38th Annual Georgia Peach Festival in Fort Valley (5 p.m.)

Fort Valley will once again present the Georgia Peach Festival starting this Friday and running through Saturday until 10 p.m. Expect arts and craft vendors, tasty food vendors, music, and what the festival is claiming to be the “World’s Largest Peach Cobbler”. This family-friendly festival is free to attend.

 > 204 West Church Street, Fort Valley

Graphic courtesy of the Georgia Peach Festival

Perry Presents “Groovin’ Into the Summer” with the Vintage Vixens (7 p.m.)

The City of Perry is presenting another Perry Presents lawn concert this Friday evening with music from the band Vintage Vixens. As the event name implies, this will be a celebration of music from the era of Flower Power. There will be food trucks onsite but outside food and drinks, and well-behaved and leashed dogs, will be permitted. Groovin’ Into the Summer is a free event and it may be canceled due to inclement weather or other circumstances.

 > Heritage Oaks Park - 2021 Sam Nunn Boulevard, Perry

Graphic courtesy of the City of Perry

GRIDROCKED: The Dairy Festival Kickoff in Eatonton (7 p.m.)

The official start of the Putnam County Dairy Festival isn’t until June 1st when there will be a 5K Road Race, parade, food trucks, children’s rides, and lots of entertainment. But before that, the rock band GridRocked, who play a large selection of music from the 60’s through the 90’s, will perform a free concert to celebrate the upcoming festival. There will also be food trucks for hungry and thirsty concertgoers, but attendees are also welcome to bring coolers, chairs, and blankets.

 > Plaza Arts Center - 305 N. Madison Avenue, Eatonton

SATURDAY, June 1st

ROADTRIP: 2024 Vintage Day Festival and Fly-in in Williamson (9 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

This festival will feature airplanes to look at and even to ride in, live music, vendors, food trucks, and more on the outdoor patio of the restaurant Barnstormer’s Grill. This family-friendly event is free to attend.

 > Peach State Aerodrome - 130 Whipple Avenue, Williamson

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: Various Tours Around Macon

To celebrate National Trails Day, NewTown Macon and Bike Walk Macon are presenting unique and free tour events around Macon. There will be two events at Amerson River Park, one giving a behind-the-scenes tour of the park (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.), and the other being a storytime event where the book “All the Way to the Oceans” by Joel Harper will be read (11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.). There will also be a tour of the new and improved Linear Park (11:30 - 12:30 p.m.), an Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Photo Walk (5 - 6 p.m.), and an event in the historic Rose Hill Cemetery with Rose Hill After Dark (9 - 10 p.m.), which will include flashlights to see by and lots of interesting stories about the cemetery’s residents by the very knowledgeable Bill Causey. Finally, the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Master Plan Reveal Party will also be taking place (from 6 to 8 p.m.) at Fall Line Brewing Co. Attendees at this free party will learn more about the future of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail while celebrating the scenic trail’s past. While all of these events are free, space is limited and registration is required to attend at all except for the celebration at Fall Line Brewing Co. Click on the links above to register for each of the National Trails Day events. If you would like to donate to help the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail reach its full potential, do so at this link.

Summer Bazaar at Perkins Ball Field in Warner Robins (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

The Summer Bazaar is a celebration of the start of summer that will include vendors, live music, food trucks, and activities for kids. This family-friendly event by Visit Warner Robins is free to attend.

 > Perkins Ball Field - 105 Mulberry Street, Warner Robins

2024 Macon Mimosa Festival at The Society Garden (12 - 6 p.m.)

The fourth annual Macon Mimosa Festival returns to The Society Garden this Saturday and Sunday with bottomless mimosas, live entertainment from DJ Pickles, Big Mike & The Booty Papas, and the Wasted Potential Brass Band on Saturday and DJ B3, The Tribe Drag Queen Brunch, and Dead Brown & Dubshak on Sunday. Tickets for the bottomless mimosas cost $30, general admission is $10, and kids under 16 get in for free. Tickets can be purchased on eventbrite.com or at the gate.

 > The Society Garden - 2389 Ingleside Avenue, Macon

YouTube user RadioUtopia Video Creations uploaded a video music they made for Big Mike & The Booty Papas's performance of the song "I'll Take Care of You"

SUNDAY, June 2nd

ROAD TRIP: Sun Codes: Outdoor Ecstatic Dance and Live Drumming in Atlanta (3 - 6 p.m.)

Another dance-filled event from Sol Dance and DJ Scott Houston will take place this Saturday in Atlanta’s Brook Run Park. This substance-free event is for all ages and includes a drum circle, sound healing, tribal face/body art, vendors, and more. General admission tickets to Sun Codes cost $25 online at this link.

 > Brook Run Park - 4736 N. Peachtree Road, Atlanta

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