Interesting Events in Middle Georgia This Weekend (3/18 - 3/20)

The Cherry Blossom Festival starts Thursday, March 17th and has events through March 27th. This is the 40th year of the Cherry Blossom Festival. This year's festivities will include the Dog Days of Downtown this weekend featuring an Ultimate Air Dogs Dock Diving Competition, a Wiener Dog Race, and the Pinkest Puppy Party.

Friday, March 18th

Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show (1 - 6:30 p.m.)

The Cherry Blossom Festival is hosting free "live action, interactive dinosaur show(s)" at Carolyn Crayton Park (previously Central City Park) starting Friday and taking place every day until Sunday, March 27th. 

These shows are designed to be exciting and informative. Participants will get a chance to interact with and touch the dinosaurs during these events. Carolyn Crayton Park is located at 115 Willie Smoker Glover Drive in Macon.

The Ocmuglee Artist Guild's Red Tie Affair: Ides of March (6 - 11:59 p.m.)

The Ocmulgee Artist Guild is going to have their first show in over two years and it will feature a fine art exhibit and art party until late Friday night. The theme for the evening will be the exploration of "notions associated with the ides; depictions of rebirth and trust, truth and betrayal" and the "turning of the season", according to the Guild. 

Art work for sale during this event will offer tiered prices for all lovers of art. The proceeds will help fund the Ocmulgee Artist Guild and their future pop-up installations and exhibits. There will be no cover charge for this event and drinks available for attendees over 21. 

Red Tie formal attire is suggested which includes black for men and white for women with something red to finish out the look. The Ocmulgee Artist Guild is located at 392 2nd Street in Macon.

This outfit works for a wedding or for attending Ocmulgee Artist Guild's Red Tie Affair: Ides of March.

Broadway Does the 80s: A Cabaret at The Grand Opera House (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.)

The Grand Opera House describes Broadway Does the 80s as an "upbeat cabaret-style performance". This event is for those who know all the words to 80's hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” or just want to enjoy a night out in the classy Grand Opera House. 

There will be an early show starting at 6:30 p.m. and a late show starting at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for this event cost $10 and can be purchased on The Grand Opera House's website. The Grand Opera House is located at 651 Mulberry Street in Macon. 

Lantern Light Tours at Ocmulgee Mounds (7:30 - 10:00 p.m.)

The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park invites the public to see the ancient sites under the moonlight as well as nearby downtown Macon from the top of the Great Temple Mound. Interpretive talks are given during the tour and visitors will see the bridge, Earth Lodge, Trading Post, and Great Temple Mound during the hour long tour. 

This event requires a reservation and masks are requested while in the Visitor Center and the Earth Lodge. The tours will start at 7:30 p.m. and every ten minutes afterwards until 10 p.m. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and will cost $6. 

Lantern Light Tours will also take place Friday and Saturday of this weekend and then Friday, March 26th and Saturday, March 27th. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park is located at 1207 Emery Highway in Macon.

Saturday, March 19th

Cherry Blossom Festival's Wiener Dog Race (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

This fun family friendly event features adorable daschunds (also called wiener dogs) racing down Cherry Street. They will be competing for the coveted “Fastest Wiener Dog in Middle Georgia!” This event is part of this year's Dog Days of Downtown. 

The Dog Days of Downtown includes a The Ultimate Air Dog Dock Diving Competition at 12 p.m. after the Weiner Dog Race and Barks and Brews will host the Pinkest Puppy Party, a costume party for dogs, from 3 until 7 p.m. The Wiener Dog Race will take place on Cherry Street in Macon.

Daschunds are known for their fierceness but not necessarily their racing abilities.

Walker Hayes performs at the Cherry Blossom Festival (8 p.m.)

Hayes will perform on the Coca-Cola Entertainment Stage at the 40th "Pinkest Party on Earth". Admission of the Cherry Blossom Festival is $5 from Sunday through Thursday and $10 on Friday’s and Saturday’s. Children 10 and under receive free admission. 

Carolyn Crayton Park is located at 153 Willie Smokie Glover Drive in Macon.

Walker Hayes' "Fancy Like" has over 70 million views on Youtube.

Sunday, March 20th

Cherry Blossom Festival's Dock Dogs Competition (12 - 5 p.m.)

This unique event is the Ultimate Air Dogs Dock Diving Competitions qualifying rounds. Participants can even see if their dogs have the skills it takes to be a diving champion for $20 per dog/per day. Smokin' Joe Lasher of Ingles Mobile Kitchen will be on hand giving cooking demonstrations. Dock Dogs Competition will take place at Carolyn Crayton Park located at 153 Willie Smokie Glover Drive in Macon.

The Ultimate Air Dogs Dock Diving Competition will take place this Saturday and Sunday (Photo courtesy of the Cherry Blossom Festival)

More News from Macon

• Fun Things to Do this Week in the Heart of Georgia Music lovers have a lot to rejoice this week in Middle Georgia
• Fun Things to Do this Week in the Heart of Georgia This week there will be free concerts, another storytelling event from Storytellers Macon, and much more from November 11th through 17th