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"Making it on I-75" is a creative artwork by Betty Bivins Edwards that currently hangs in the Museum of Arts & Science (Photographer Nate Weeks)
This week in Middle Georgia fans of classical music can enjoy a night out at the symphony, Art After Dark will once again bring a unique after dark arts festival to Downtown Macon, and the Perry International Festival will celebrate the cultures and contributions of over 20 countries with food, dance, arts, and more. The following are just a few of the adventures to be had this week in the heart of Georgia.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24th
Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra at The Piedmont Grand Opera House (7:30 p.m.)
The symphony will return to The Grand on Monday with Paul Watkins, conductor of the Emerson String Quartet, leading Mercer University’s McDuffie Center Young Artists and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians as they perform music from composers Beethoven, Bartók, and Enigma. Tickets start at $25 on tixr.com.
> The Piedmont Grand Opera House: 617 Mulberry Street, Macon
Peter Oundjian was the guest conductor at one of the concerts last year (Photographer Nate Weeks)TUESDAY, February 25th
Women Build 2025 Kick-Off Event at Fall Line Brewing Co. (5-7 p.m.)
Macon Area Habitat is celebrating its 2025 Women Build teams at Fall Line Brewing Co. on Tuesday. Attendees will enjoy live music with food and drinks for sale as well as giveaways. Team members will receive 2 drink tickets and 1 raffle ticket, according to the brewery and additional tickets will be available for purchase, according to Macon Area Habitat for Humanity.
> Fall Line Brewing Co.: 565 2nd Street Lane, Macon
Mercer Jazz Ensemble - 1959! A Pivotal Year in Modern Jazz at Fickling Hall (7:30 p.m.)
The Mercer University Jazz Ensemble will present 1959! on Tuesday evening. 1959 was a "pivotal Year in modern jazz" with musicians like Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Cannonball Adderly, Lester Young, and Dave Brubeck releasing their music at that time. The Mercer Jazz Ensemble will honor the musicians with a performance that is free and open to the public.
> McCorkle Music Building “Fickling Hall”: 1329 Adams Street, Macon
WEDNESDAY, February 26th
Preserving the Past for the Future at Washington Memorial Library (4-5 p.m.)
The experts from the well-appointed Genealogical and Historical Room at the Washington Memorial Library will review ways to preserve genealogical research for your future relatives at this free event on Wednesday.
> Washington Memorial Library: 1180 Washington Avenue, Macon
THURSDAY, February 27th
GRAND OPENING: The Meat Locker in Eatonton (6 a.m.)
The Meat Locker, a general grocery store and meat market owned by Darin and Lisa Simmons, will open in Eatonton on Monday. According to the Meat Locker’s recent Facebook posts, the store will sell fresh produce, seafood, meats (even exotic ones), ready-made casseroles, and more.
> The Meat Locker: 182 Pea Ridge Road, Eatonton
Cherry Blossom Queen, Princess, and Legacy Queen Coronation at The Douglas Theatre (5:30 p.m.)
The Cherry Blossom Festival will be crowning the Cherry Blossom Queen, Princess and Legacy Queen at a coronation at The Douglass Theatre this Thursday evening. The ambassadors have been selected through a private interview process. The Cherry Blossom Queen contestants are high school juniors, the Princess contestants are 8th graders, and the Legacy Queen contestants are 55 and older. The Cherry Blossom Queen, Princess, and Legacy Queen Coronation is free to attend.
> The Douglass Theatre: 428 Mulberry Street Lane, Macon
Shoalie School 2025 at The Capitol Theatre (6 p.m.)
There will certainly be lots of big fish stories told at Shoalie School, a meeting of fishing "advocates, anglers, and researchers" at The Capitol Theatre on Thursday who are "working to protect the shoal bass, habitat, and public access." Tickets for Shoalie School start at $20 (plus fees) on eventbrite.com.
> The Capitol Theatre: 382 2nd Street, Macon
FRIDAY, February 28th
Dickey Betts Tribute Pre-Party with Willis Gore & Greg Kearney at Grant’s Lounge (4:30 p.m.)
Willis Gore of Bonnie Blue and Greg Kearney of Parts & Labor will be performing an acoustic set at the pre-party for the “In Memory of Dickey Betts” show on Friday. Everyone who is going to the memorial show are invited to stop in at Grant's Lounge beforehand. The Dickey Betts Tribute Pre-Party is free and open to the 21 and older public.
> Grant’s Lounge: 576 Poplar Street, Macon
State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine: Sleeping Beauty at The Piedmont Grand Opera House (7 p.m.)
The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine will perform the classical ballet "Sleeping Beauty" this Friday evening at The Piedmont Grand Opera House. Tickets currently start at $45 (plus fees) on tixr.com.
> The Piedmont Grand Opera House: 651 Mulberry Street, Macon
Fall Line Brewing Co.'s 2nd Annual Art after Dark Festival (7 p.m.)
The first Art after Dark was a success with lots of visitors coming to Downtown Macon both during the day and night to see live demonstrations of glassblowing, buy one-of-a-kind artworks, drink glow-in-the-dark beverages, and listen to music from DJ Uh-Oh, who will be returning this year. Fall Line Brewing Co. holds Art after Dark in the parking lot across the street from the brewery. The Glow Roll with Bike Walk Macon, which is a community bike ride through Downtown Macon, will start and end at the festival and the first 50 riders will get fairy lights for free (with the "most decked-out" (with glow-in-the-dark gear) participant winning a $50 Fall Line gift card. Helmets are required to participate in the Glow Roll. At 8 p.m., the Neon Queen drag performance will take place at a "neon pop-up club" inside Fall Line Brewing Co. Entry for Neon Queen is $10 on eventbrite.com with performances at 8, 9, and 10 p.m.
> Fall Line Brewing Co.: 567 Plum Street, Macon
Original artwork from artists like Bo Walker (@bometheus) will be on sale at Art After Dark (Photographer Nate Weeks)MUSIC: In Memory of Dickey Betts at the Macon City Auditorium (7 p.m.)
The Dickey Betts Memorial Concert will pay homage to the Betts's life and legacy and feature performances by Warren Hayes, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Oteil Burbridge Jaimoe, Chuck Leavell, Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Charlie Starr, Jimmy Hall, and Lamar Williams Jr. (and more believe it or not). Tickets prices started out as low as $69 but those were quickly purchased online. Local music expert David Jarrell recently stated in a recent Facebook post that the ticket prices on ticketmaster.com were dropping and would likely get lower this Thursday and Friday. Currently, the lowest priced ticket is showing as a steep $675, and the highest as $4,500.
> Macon City Auditorium: 415 1st Street, Macon
MUSIC: Disquiet - Dr. Nathan Gay on Tuba and Euphonium at Fickling Hall (7:30 p.m.)
Dr. Nathan Gay will present "Disquiet" with Dr. Kyung-A Yoo (piano), Dr. Marcus Reddick (percussion), and Dr. Monty Cole (bass) on Friday. Disquiet is a tuba and euphonium, also called a tubonium, concert. A euphonium is a type of brass instrument whose name is derived from the Greek word meaning "well-sounding." Disquiet is free and open to the public.
> McCorkle Music Building “Fickling Hall”: 1329 Adams Street, Macon
Graphic courtesy of Mercer University School of MusicMUSIC: ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience at The Capitol Theatre (8 p.m.)
ZOSO has been entertaining concert goers for almost 28 Years as "America’s Premier Led Zeppelin Tribute Band." The doors at The Capitol Theatre will open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $26.55 plus fees on seetickets.us or at the box office.
> The Capitol Theatre: 382 Second Street, Macon
MUSIC: FAAFO Late Night Show at Grant’s Lounge (10:30 p.m.)
FAAFO will play at historic Grant's Lounge on Friday night. FAAFO features members of Frankly Scarlet, Voodoo Visionary, and Hivemind. They will be playing the afterparty for the "In Memory of Dickey Betts" concert. Doors open at 9:30pm and the show starts at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 (plus fees) on seetickets.us in advance or at the door.
> Grant’s Lounge: 576 Poplar Street, Macon
SATURDAY, March 1st
2025 Forsythia Festival Pageant (9 a.m.)
The 2025 Forsythia Festival Pageant is open to girls aged 0 to 22 and to boys 0 to 10. Contact the organizer through the Facebook event post at this link if you want to sign up you child for the pageant.
> Patrol Road, Forsyth
Level Up Scrimmage Day at the MGDD Warehouse (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
The Middle Georgia Derby Demons will hold their second annual level up scrimmage event starting on Saturday morning. The scrimmage will follow WFTDA rules and is open to all WFTDA scrimmage eligible skaters who are 18 and older. The skaters must show up at 9 a.m. The first bout is level 1, which is no No Contact. The second bout is level 2, Lean and Push, which involves no momentum contact. And the third bout, level 3, is Full contact. The cost for entry is $10 and you were able to sign up at this link, but it appears this event is now full, but you can message the Middle Georgia Derby Demons on Facebook or Instagram to be put on the alternate list.
> MGDD Warehouse: 115 Willie Smokie Glover Drive, Macon
4th Annual Perry International Festival (10 a.m.-8 p.m.)
The Perry International Festival returns to Downtown Perry again this year. Last year's festival was cancelled due to inclement weather. Attendees will be able to watch entertaining dances, listen to authentic music, shop for jewelry, art, and clothes, and enjoy hot meals and cold drinks from vendors from over 20 countries. Visitors to Perry are requested to use public parking, identified at this link, and avoid using commercial or private property to park as tickets will be issued for parking violations. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
> Historic Downtown Perry: 757 Carroll Street, Perry
Last year's Perry International Festival was cancelled due to inclement weather (Graphic courtesy of the Perry International Festival)Georgia Beer Day at Fall Line Brewing Co. (12 p.m.)
Fall Line Brewing Co. will celebrate Georgia Beer Day on Saturday. Guests can get limited edition pint glasses plus a beer for $10 or an individual glass for $8, according to the brewery. $1 will be donated towards the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild for every glass purchased.
> Fall Line Brewing Co.: 567 Plum Street Macon
60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Gala (7-11:30 p.m.)
Visit Dublin invites Middle Georgia residents to the St. Patrick’s Gala on Saturday at the Dublin Country Club. Guests are asked to dress in fancy cocktail attire and be ready to dance to music from Kenny On The Keys. Guests will get one free drink ticket with admission and there will be a cash bar at the 21 and older event. Admission to the St. Patricks Gala is only included with Order of Shillelagh & Blarney Stone Memberships and limited memberships will be available at the door or for $45 plus fees on visitdublin.org.
> Dublin Country Club: 614 Fairview Drive, Dublin
MUSIC: The HORDE Festival Revival at The Society Garden (7:30 p.m.)
The Core returns to The Society Garden on Saturday. This band performs hits from bands and artists like Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers Band, and Lenny Kravitz. The HORDE Festival was a music festival that took place in the 90s and featured popular bands and bands with weird names like Big Head Todd & the Monsters. The Society Garden usually charges a cover at the gate during live music events.
> The Society Garden: 2389 Ingleside Avenue, Macon
MUSIC: B-SQUARED Band at Serenity Entertainment Complex (8 p.m.)
The B² Band mixes up rhythm and blues, funk, hip hop and jazz to create a unique sound. Crowd participation is highly encouraged at this show. Tickets cost $10 on Serenity Entertainment Complex’s website.
> Serenity Entertainment Complex: 427 Poplar Street, Macon
Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at Hotel Forty Five (9 p.m.-1 a.m.)
Hotel Forty Five's Hightales Rooftop Bar will celebrate Mardi Gras magic with a Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball on Saturday night and into the early morning hours of Sunday. Guests will listen to a DJ as they get the crowd hyped up for a long night, signature cocktails, and lots of mysterious masks to keep things more mysterious. There is no charge for this event but make sure to RSVP at this link to reserve your spot.
> Hotel Forty Five: 401 Cotton Avenue, Macon
SUNDAY, March 2nd
MUSIC: Shovels and Rope at The Society Garden (7-9 p.m.)
Shovels & Rope is a unique band that has performed in Macon several times so far and even headlined a Bragg Jam Concert Crawl. The American folk band is made up of a married couple, Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst. duo from Charleston, South Carolina composed of husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst.
One night in the middle of the night there were a series of noises coming from above which lead to a series of thoughts. It sounded like something was working. Building something.. A nest for its family? A trap for its prey? This led to more thoughts about unseen things at work. A God? A voice in your head? It all feels kind of made up until someone responds to it.
Less means more. That’s kind of always how it’s been with us. This time the rules were simple: we can only use what we work with live and whatever we put down on tape must be accomplishable on a stage in a live setting. That’s always seemed to be when we’re at our best. Or most twitchy. Many times we’ve made records that we loved and then, after figuring out how we’d perform it live, we end up falling in love with the live arrangement because being a 2 piece band it took some real risk and struggle which led to innovation which gave it a whole new life. (Consider the tortured grape.) So with this one we just started there and worked backwards. The result encapsulates, more than anything we’ve done before, the sound of our live performance. Resulting in what one might consider by definition, a definitive album. Tickets to see Shovels and Rope cost $30 on eventbrite.com.
> The Society Garden: Ingleside Avenue, Macon
Shovels and Rope's "Lay Low" is a moving song about free, love, and sadness
MUSIC: The Biggest Southern Soul Day Party featuring 803 Fresh and DJ Smooth ( p.m.)
The Biggest Southern Soul Day Party will feature a performance from 803 Fresh with live music by DJ Smooth. This is a 21 and up event. Text (478) 320-2127 to reserve a table or section.
> Macon Arts Center: 4570 Pio Nono Avenue, Macon
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