Keeping it Reel: Middle Georgia Times' Instagram Reels

While Middle Georgia Times has been publishing articles since 2021, we have also been posting Instagram Reels and other social media content. This article presents a way to publish the content usually on seen on Instagram and Facebook in case readers may have missed out on that content. This article will be updated regularly, so be sure to check back if you would rather not be swiping through Reel after Reel on a perfectly good day to go on an adventure.

MACON-MERCER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH CONDUCTOR MEI-ANN CHEN AND SONGWRITERS FROM THE OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION'S 2025 SUMMER CAMP

MACON MUSIC: The Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra, led by guest conduction Mei-Ann Chen and joined songwriters from the Otis Redding Foundation’s 2025 Summer Camp, created an absolutely magical musical experience during Monday night’s performance.

Each young songwriter performed their own original songs. Aislin Taylor sung “Under The Tree,” Madisyn Cabiness sung “Neverland”, Sam Behrend sung Mourning Dove, and Sara Mazanec sung “To Be Known.” Every song was moving and impressively well written, truly honoring the fantastic legacy of music icon Otis Redding.

Macon’s past history includes connections with musicians who went on to become worldwide phenomenons like Little Richard and The Allman Brothers Band. 2026 continues to be very good time to be a music fan in Middle Georgia.

While you won’t hear as much southern rock as in years past, there is now a banquet of musical performances to experience every week. Just this week, there was a symphony orchestra on Monday and then an ambient music performance on Tuesday.

Every single week of the year, either in Macon or one of the many surrounding Middle Georgia cities, musicians bravely put themselves on display in front of sometimes inattentive and outright rude audiences.

Music is a type of medicine: modern science has shown that to be a verified fact. Middle Georgia’s musicians, both brand new songwriters and musicians just starting out and those who have performed hundreds of times, deserve a round of standing applause like the one received by the young, talented songwriters at Monday night’s symphony orchestra.

GRAY HIGHWAY, MACON

A vehicle covered in vibrant green artificial grass recently sped down a traffic heavy Gray Highway in Macon. This unusual car covering does have its advantages: no more paying for car washes or expensive paint jobs!

On a more serious note, Gray Highway is one of Macon’s deadliest highways. 15 pedestrians have died trying to cross the highway since 2006, with four of those pedestrians killed around Downtown Macon’s Spring Street.

Cars, tractor-trailers, box trucks, and motorcycles speed along the busy six-lane highway near Macon’s downtown while pedestrians who live nearby often have long waits to cross safely, knowing one misstep or a bad driver could lead to potential death.

In late 2024, medianettes, a raised concrete section in the middle of the highway, began to be installed on the side closer to Macon’s downtown.

As the highway gets closer to the small city of Gray, it once again becomes a real-life game of Frogger for pedestrians, with far worse consequences than having to start your game over.

Sources: The Macon Newsroom “One of Macon’s deadliest highways is made a bit safer” and GPB’s “State plans to make one of Macon’s deadliest roads safer for pedestrians”

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SMILEY'S FLEA MARKET IN MACON

One of the more unique shopping experiences you can have in Middle Georgia is visiting Smiley’s Flea Market in Macon, off of Highway 247.

Billed as the largest flea market in Georgia, shoppers can purchase everything, including baked goods, clothing, fresh fruits and vegetables, livestock, tools, and toys.

The sounds of festive Mexican music, along with the smiling faces of vendors selling authentic Mexican foods and cold drinks, give the flea market a uniquely festive atmosphere throughout the year.

An antique merry-go-round on-site gives children a fun activity to do while their parents find great deals.

Smiley’s Markets & Malls was formed by Ben Campen, Sr. in 1984 in Fletcher, North Carolina. Campen used his experience in the flea market business to open the original Smiley’s on 20 acres with a little more than 50,000 square feet of covered selling area. That original location has now grown to have over 100,000 square feet of covered selling area.

When Campen opened a new Smiley’s location on 30 acres in Macon on July 4th, 1985, the flea market had only 2 buildings with 18,000 square feet of space. Now the flea market boasts a facility on 60 acres that features more than 100,000 square feet of covered selling stalls and 400 outside selling spaces.

Campen’s children, Ashley and Ben Jr., have continued to work to make the family business a continued success.

Smiley’s Flea Market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 6716 Hawkinsville Road in Macon. You can contact the flea market at (478) 788-3700.

Sources: Smiley’s Flea Markets website and Facebook pag

MAD HATTER CAFE & CONFECTIONS IN WARNER ROBINS

Mad Hatter Cafe & Confections is a unique Victorian-themed cafe and dessert shop in Warner Robins influenced by the whimsical world of Alice and Wonderland.

The cafe serves scratch-made desserts, ice cream, snacks, coffee, and sweet drinks. Many items were originally family recipes. The cafe also sells ice cream not often found in Middle Georgia, Michigan-based Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream.

The cafe is owned and operated by a mother and her two daughters, Stephanie, Sage, and Drake Saunders. The Saunders family have restored a Victorian home in Downtown Macon, and they definitely have an eye for Victorian design..

Mad Hatter Cafe & Confections is located at 85 Highway 247, Warner Robins. The cafes operating hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

Sources: Macon Telegraph’s “Step into whimsy at Mad Hatter Cafe & Confections to open in Warner Robins By Becky Purser” and the website of Mad Hatter Cade & Confections

MURAL AT THE GALLERIA MALL BY ALYSSA (AKA TOAD SHORTS)

A colorful and unique mural by local artist Alyssa (aka Toad shorts) can be found greeting visitors at one of the entrances to the Galleria Mall.

Alyssa grew up in Warner Robins and attended Georgia Southwestern State University. She wanted to create something “silly, fun, and colorful for the place [she] loved so much growing up.”

Alyssa has since received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and now makes art using a variety of mediums, including painting, printmaking, and tufting.

Music by Ana and Killick at Fresh Produce Records