10-13-2024 6:01pm

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

Nate Weeks Editor

The band BAS entertained large crowds on Coleman Hill during Bragg Jam Second Sunday's Concert this past Sunday (Photographer Nate Weeks)

This week in the heart of Georgia, there will be plenty of events to get to know your neighbors, enjoy live music, and get ready for Halloween with multiple free family-friendly events. The following are just a few of the celebrations and things to do this week in your community.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14th

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Middle Georgia has a long and storied history of indigenous civilizations that once thrived here, surviving off the fruits of the land in responsible ways that did not lead to the depletions of natural resources or the destruction of the environment. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a way to celebrate the contributions of Indigenous communities worldwide, from Oklahoma, to Brazil and to many faraway places like Siberia, where people still live in the ways of their ancestors. While only south Fulton County in Georgia has renamed Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH

Soirée: A Macon Magazine Women in Business Gathering at Just Tap’d (3:30-5:30 p.m.)

Kaitlynn Kressin, the owner of Just Tap’d, will speak at this event from Macon Magazine, which celebrates women-owned businesses and the many businesses who want to work with them. Attendees who are interested in coming are requested to email hello@maconmagazine.com and to bring a colleague by Macon Magazine.

> Just Tap’d - 488 First Street, Macon

Invasion of the Plants that Ate Macon! (6 p.m.)

This creative Halloween-themed workshop will frighten and educate participants about invasive, non-native plants in Middle Georgia and what can be done to counteract the damage they can do to the environment. Dr. Heather Bowman Cutway, a biology professor at Mercer, will teach this workshop from the Fringed Campion Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society, the Bibb County GA Cooperative Extension, and the Georgia Native Plant Society. Register online for this free workshop at this link.

> 715 Oglethorpe Street, Macon

WEDNESDAY, October 16th

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Masonic Home of Georgia (11 a.m.)

This event will celebrate the opening of the Masonic Home’s first transitional housing for young adults. There will be refreshments served as well as a chance after the ribbon cutting to tour the over 100-year-old facility.

> Masonic Home of Georgia - 1412 Nottingham Drive, Macon

40 Whacks: A Haunting Cocktail Ax-Perience at The Society Garden (6:30 and 10 p.m.)

This unique theatrical storytelling event will retell the infamous, bloody story of Lizzie Borden and will include local actors, three specially crafted drinks, photo opportunities, and more. There will be two showings of 40 Whacks, which is for audience members 21 and older, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week at 6:30 and 10 p.m.). Tickets cost $20 without the three beverages and are $45 with the themed drinks.

> The Society Garden - 2389 Ingleside Avenue, Macon

Macon Music Revue at Grant’s Lounge (8 - 11 p.m.)

The band Macon Music Revue takes to the stage at Grant's Lounge. and plays songs tied to Macon’s rich musical heritage every Wednesday night. Afterward, Fresh Produce Records presents music with the talented DJ Willie D. The cover charge for this show is $10 at the door.

> Grant’s Lounge - 576 Poplar Street, Macon

THURSDAY, October 17th

Food Truck Roundup Halloween Spooktacular at Perkins Ball Field (5-9 p.m.)

Another Food Truck Roundup will take place at Perkins Ball Field this Thursday. The theme for the evening will be Halloween, and there will be a Kids Zone, a trunk or treat, free candy, and, of course, plenty of food trucks to try out. Guests are invited to wear their spookiest costumes for this free, family-friendly event.

> Perkins Ball Field - 105 Mulberry Street, Warner Robins

Macon Arts Alliance’s Cultural Awards at the Mill Hill Community Arts Center (5:30-10 p.m.)

The Cultural Awards returns to Macon on Thursday with a celebration and recognition of the “individuals, organizations, and businesses who have made significant contributions to the cultural life of Central Georgia through their work or philanthropic efforts,” according to Macon Arts Alliance. This event is free and open to the public.

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

Blues Rock Guitarist Eric Gales at The Capitol Theatre (8 p.m.)

Eric Gales (aka Raw Dawg) was called a child prodigy for his musical skills, which he began to develop at the age of four. He will be performing soulful blues rock at The Capitol Theatre this Thursday evening. General admission tickets cost $25 for this concert, and balcony tickets cost $35 on seetickets.us or at The Capitol Theatre’s box office.

> The Capitol Theatre - 382 Second Street, Macon

FRIDAY, October 18th

Downtown Perry’s Beer Bourbon & Barbeque (5 p.m.)

This event will celebrate three things many adults enjoy in Middle Georgia, which you might have guessed already are beer, bourbon, and barbecue. General admission tickets cost $95 and include a tasting cup, four bourbon samples, twenty beer samples, a sample of barbeque from Myron Mixon, live music, and a tasting passport for those twenty-one years of age and older.

> Historic Downtown Perry - 757 Carroll Street, Perry

Caleb Caudle & the Sweet Critters at Capricorn Sound Studios (7:30 p.m.)

Caudle and his band, the Sweet Critters, have played at music festivals like Stagecoach, Merlefest, and Americanafest, and they will be bringing their unique Americana sound to Macon’s Capricorn Sound Studios this Thursday. The band's latest album was called “Sweet Critters”. Tickets to see them perform cost $25 online at this link.

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

Festival of Laughs with Comedians Tony Roberts, Sommore, Tony Rock, and Arnez J at the Macon City Auditorium (8 p.m.)

Laughter may be the cheapest medicine around, especially these days. Comedian Tony Roberts, who has performed at such famous comedy clubs like the Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory, will be telling funnies at the Macon City Auditorium on Friday night along with other comedians, including Sommore, Tony Rock, and Arnez J. Tickets to this comedic event currently start at $55 on ticketmaster.com.

> Macon City Auditorium - 415 First Street, Macon

Gray City Limits at The Society Garden (8 p.m.)

Gray City Limits, a band made up of three young and talented musicians from Middle Georgia, will be playing on The Society Garden’s big stage this Friday.

> The Society Garden - 2389 Ingleside Avenue, Macon

Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John at the Griffin Opera House (8 p.m.)

This tribute show will include a celebration of the music and performances of Elton John at Griffin’s Opera House. Tickets, which appear to be selling fast, currently start at $27.50 on freshtix.com.

> Griffin Opera House - 102 North Hill Street, Suite 200, Griffin

Red Shahan at Grant’s Lounge (9 p.m.)

Red Shanan will perform Americana, folk, and rock music at historic Grant’s Lounge on Friday night. The doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $15 at the door or online (plus fees).

> Grant’s Lounge - 576 Poplar Street, Macon

SATURDAY, October 19th

Book Bites at Sweet Eleanor’s (11 a.m.-12 p.m.)

This Saturday, the North Highlands Neighborhood Association’s Book Bites invites those who are interested in attending a book club but don’t have much time to spend doing so for a quick bimonthly book club meeting at dessert shop Sweet Eleanor’s in downtown Macon. The selections are three of Amor Towles’s short stories from his book “Table for Two”: “The Line”, “Hasta Luego”, and “The Bootlegger”, and each of these stories are less than forty pages long. This event is free and open to the book-loving public.

> Sweet Eleanor’s - 524 Poplar Street, Macon

Art in the Park in Perry (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

The fourth annual Art in the Park will feature regional artists and makers creating outdoor works of art while attendees enjoy the cooling weather, live music, food truck vendors, and more. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

> Heritage Oaks Park - 2021 Sam Nunn Boulevard, Perry

Macon Beer Fest 2024 in Downtown Macon (2-7 p.m.)

The 14th annual Macon Beer Fest returns to Downtown Macon on Saturday. The festival will feature one hundred varieties of beer and wine to sample, food, arts and crafts vendors, and two stages for live music, according to the organizer. General admission tickets to the Macon Beer Fest cost $45 online: you can also get free tickets for the costume contest at 4 p.m. and tickets that include the Rock & Pub Crawl for $55 online at this link.

> Historic Downtown Macon

Fairytales & Friends Boo Bash in Warner Robins (6 p.m.)

Fairytales & Friends Boo Bash will include Halloween-themed activities, more than ten characters, including iconic princesses and frightening villains, a trick-or-treat adventure, and a Halloween mask craft. Tickets to this event are only available online at this link and cost $30.

> Wellston Center - 155 Maple Street, Warner Robins

Brantley Gilbert: Off the Rails Tour at Atrium Health Amphitheater (7 p.m.)

Brantley Gilbert is a country rock singer, songwriter, and producer from northeast Georgia’s city of Jefferson. He will be performing at the newest music venue in Middle Georgia, the Atrium Health Amphitheater, on Saturday. Gilbert recently had to rush off stage mid-concert as his wife surprisingly gave birth to their child on his tour bus. Tickets to see Gilbert perform on the big stage at the amphitheater cost $15 on ticketmaster.com, and a portion of the proceeds from the tickets are being donated to hurricane relief and recovery efforts.

> Atrium Health Amphitheater - 3657 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon

Megan Jean’s Secret Family at JBA (8 p.m.)

Megan Jean’s Secret Family, who very recently released their debut album “PLOT”, will be performing at JBA this Saturday. This band’s unique sound comes from the mixture of 70’s and 90’s rock, soul, country, and jam band music.

> JBA - 425 Cherry Street, Macon

Megan Jean's Secret Family's music video for their song "Daffodils"

SUNDAY, October 20th

Fall Festival in Centerville (3-5 p.m.)

The church Well at Centreville will be throwing a Fall Festival this Sunday with jumpy houses, face painting, games, a cake walk, and live music, according to the organizer. This family-friendly event is free to attend.

> The Well at Centerville - 600 North Houston Lake Boulevard, Centerville

Classics at the Bibb: “Night of the Living Dead” at Bibb Theatre (7:30-10:30 p.m.)

NewTown Macon’s Classics at the Bibb returns to the outside wall of the historic Bibb Theatre this Sunday with a screening of the cult hit horror movie “Night of the Living Dead.” This event is free and open to the public courtesy of the Downtown Challenge Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, the Peyton Anderson Foundation, and the Knight Foundation.

> Bibb Theatre - 455 3rd Street, Macon