6-02-2024 8:29pm

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

Nate Weeks Editor

Reptiles in Middle Georgia are particularly enjoying the hotter weather (Photographer Nate Weeks)

The month of June is bringing with it lots of hot sun and plenty of fun ways to have fun and enjoy all Middle Georgia has to offer. Many families will have kids at home looking for something to do, so for this article, I have tried to focus on events that families with kids could enjoy together. The following are just a few of the fun events taking place from June 3rd through June 9th.

MONDAY, June 3rd

Summer Teen Arts Program at Artspace Macon (1 p.m.)

Artspace Macon, Casie Creates, and Lindsey Hopkins Art will be presenting the Summer Teen Arts Program starting on June 3rd and running through June 26th. Students in this program will learn all about the “fundamentals of drawing and inspiration”. The program will take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and all twelve lessons cost $440 while a week of lessons cost $110. You can purchase tickets at this link.

> Artspace Macon - 2378 Ingleside Avenue, Macon

TUESDAY, June 4th

ROAD TRIP: Alice’s Wonderland at Atlanta Botanical Garden (9 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

If you haven’t seen the Alice’s Wonderland at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens you are in for a surprise. The whimsical world of Lewis Carroll is brought to life with almost 40 oversized plant-based sculptures, including an almost 30-foot-tall White Rabbit. Tickets to the Atlanta Botanical Garden are $26,95 for adults and $23.95 for children 3 to 12 years of age (children 3 and under get in free). You can purchase tickets at the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s website.

> Atlanta Botanical Garden - 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta

WEDNESDAY, June 5th

An Evening with Kassi Valazza at Capricorn Sound Studios (7:30 p.m.)

Country singer Kassi Valazza will be performing at the historic Capricorn Sound Studios on Wednesday. Valazza moved from Arizona to Portland, Oregon to study painting and her music has been influenced by musicians like Michael Hurly, Sandy Denny, and and Fairport Convention. You can also hear the sounds of the 60s and 70s West Coast in both her lyrics and singing. Valazza’s newest album is called “Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing” Tickets to see Kassi Valazza in concert cost $25 online on seetickets.com.

> 461 3rd Street, Macon

Kassi Valazza's office video for her song "Verde River"

THURSDAY, June 6th

ROAD TRIP: Warbirds Over Georgia in Andersonville (9 a.m. p.m.)

The Scale Warbird Association, which organizes flights of “warbirds” (any vintage military aircraft) is presenting Warbirds Over Georgia from June 6th through June 8th near Americus. There will be radio-controlled airplanes of all sizes based on full-scale warbirds flying through the skies throughout Warbirds Over Georgia. The registration fee for Warbirds Over Georgia is $20 and RVs are welcome with hookups starting at $35 a night. Contact David Heil at (850) 974-7941 for any questions about this family-friendly event.

> 428 Neil Hodges Road, Andersonville

Soirée at Mill Hill Community Arts Center (4 - 6 p.m.)

Another Macon Magazine Women in Business gathering will take place this Thursday. This event is “for women and those that want to work with us” and attendees will learn about development on the East Bank, network, and learn more about talented entrepreneurs in Middle Georgia. The Soirée event is free to attend.

> Mill Hill Community Arts Center - 213 Clinton Street, Macon

FRIDAY, June 7th

ROAD TRIP: Inaugural Gratitude Festival in North Carolina (10 a.m.)

The first event Gratitude Festival, presented by Tovah Jacobson, will take place in North Carolina this weekend from June 7th to the 10th. The festival will include workshops about gratitude, yoga, live music from the Natty Love Joys, Dawn Loves Nash, Gina & Gershone, and more. There are glamping opportunities as well as primitive camping and dry recreational vehicle sites. You can purchase tickets and learn more about this family-friendly camping event at this link.

> North Cove Leisure Club - 210 Blue Ridge Drive, North Marion

First Friday in Downtown Macon (5 - 8 p.m.)

Another First Friday is upon us and this one will include fantastic artists like Michael Pierce, with his gallery “Elemental Mana” opening at Gallery West (5 - 8 p.m.), while the 567 Gallery will feature artwork from Valerie Aranda. Emerson at Plum will be presenting a pop-up summer shopping experience (4 - 9 p.m.), and there will be live music being played all around Macon including the deliciously named band “Dr. Bacon” performing at The Hummingbird (10 p.m.)

Good Medicine in Turpin Park (5 - 9 p.m.)

The Court of Miracles and friends will once again fill Downtown Macon’s Turpin Park and create a place of play, creativity, and discovery for Good Medicine this Friday. This family-friendly event is free, although the Court of Miracles does take donations to continue to be able to present joyful experiences in Middle Georgia.

> Turpin Park - Corner of Third and Poplar Street, Macon

First Friday Beach Bash in Milledgeville (5 - 9 p.m.)

Milledgeville Main Street will present an evening of “sand, sun, and fun” this Friday. DJ Hit Play will perform and there will also be activities for children, according to the organizers. This is a free event.

> 114 E. Hancock Street, Milledgeville

Portray Exhibit Opens at the McEachern Art Center (6 p.m.)

Mercer’s McEachern Art Center will feature artwork from four talented portrait artists living in Middle Georgia, Amber McCants, Lauren Tanner, Kevin Scene Lewis, and Micah Goguen. As usual, the art gallery will feature unique and surprising elements, this time with mirrors creatively used to bring gallerygoers into the exhibit in a more intimate way. There will be speeches from the artists and light food and drinks will be served as well. Portray is free to the public.

> McEachern Art Center - 332 Second Street, Macon

SATURDAY, June 8th

Pride in Our Park at the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Pride in Our Park is a community and park clean-up initiative from Macon Pride and Southern Queer Folks Hike. Sign up for Pride in Our Park at this link.

> Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park - 1207 Emery Highway, Macon

Barks, Bites, & Beats: Live Music and Cuban Food Truck at Barks N Brews (12 p.m.)

Downtown Macon’s only dog park/bar will present “Barks, Bites & Beats” on Saturday with live music from Jacob Davis from 1 to 3 p.m. and a Cuban Island Cafe Food truck from 12 to 5 p.m. Dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations and there is a daily fee (or a membership) that you can find out more about on the Barks and Brews website.

> Barks N Brews - 695 Riverside Drive, Macon

Washington Memorial Library Summer Reading Kickoff (2 p.m.)

For many, reading is fun and this free event at Washington Memorial Library celebrates reading and games. This family-friendly event is free to attend.

> Washington Memorial Library - 1180 Washington Avenue

ROAD TRIP: June Jam Beach Party in Downtown Griffin (3 - 10 p.m.)

This event will include music from DJ Tonic, Matt Floyd (6 p.m.), and The Goodwood Band (7:30 p.m.) food trucks, and beach games. More than 80 tons of sand were transported to Griffin for this beach party in Middle Georgia. This event is free to attend though you can purchase a VIP area table on eventbrite.com.

> Downtown Griffin - 100 South Street, Griffin

Woman in the Water: An Art and Music Experience at the Society Garden (5 - 11:45 p.m.)

Woman in the Water will combine artworks from local artists along with live music from BAS, N3510, FORASTETTIK (8 p.m.), Pickles (9 p.m.), the808Baby (10 p.m.), and Clark After Dark (11 p.m.) with pop up performances from Tribe Empire and dancing by DEJA. Tickets to Woman in the Water cost $20 on eventbrite.com.

> The Society Garden - 2389 Ingleside Drive, Macon

SUNDAY, June 9

Organ Concert at Callaway Gardens (1- 3 p.m.)

The powerful custom-built Möller pipe organ at Callaway Gardens will pulse out over the scenic gardens this Sunday. This organ concert is included with entry into the park, which costs $29.99 for an adult and $19.99 for children.

> Callaway Gardens - 17800 U.S. Highway 27, Pine Mountain