GEORGIA HAPPENINGS The festival opens on June 7 at 5 p.m. at North Peach Park in Byron with a variety of activities that include a concert at 8 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m. The second weekend of the festival in Fort Valley begins at 9 a.m. around the Peach County Courthouse with arts and crafts and the presentation of the World’s Largest Peach Cobbler at 2 p.m., a concert at 8 p.m. and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Visit http://gapeachfestival.com or call 478-825-4002 for more information.
40TH GEORGIA BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL
June 6 & 7 • Alma Festival activities begin at 1 p.m. on June 6. Activities on June 7 begin at 6:30 a.m. with registration for a 5-K run, followed by a $4 blueberry pancake breakfast, a parade at 9:30 a.m., Civil War reenactments at the local recreation center and a pie eating contest at noon. About 75 vendors are expected to participate in the arts and crafts festival at Goldwasser Park. Event also includes a bass fishing contest and tennis tournament. Visit http://www. georgiablueberyfestival.org for a complete schedule and event locations or call 912310-7399 for more information.
65TH ANNUAL WATERMELON DAYS FESTIVAL
June 28 • Cordele The residents of Crisp County celebrate all things watermelon with events throughout June. The main event on June 28 will include a parade starting at 9 a.m., an arts and crafts show, car and truck show, antique tractor display and live entertainment. June 28th events are held at the Crisp Regional Hospital Park on the corner of 3rd Ave. & 3rd St. Visit http://cordelecrispga.com or call 229-273-1668 for more information.
GEORGIA PEACH FESTIVAL
June 7 • Byron June 14 • Fort Valley Join Peach County as it hosts a weeklong festival honoring Georgia’s namesake crop. 32
Aug. 16 Downtown Brooklet Located between Statesboro and Savannah, the folks in Brooklet “go nuts” every August during their festival that includes a 5K run/walk at 7 a.m., a parade at 10 a.m., an arts and crafts show beginning at 10 a.m., live entertainment throughout the day and a street dance beginning at 7 p.m. Visit http://brookletpeanutfestival.com or call 912-481-1742 for more information.
GARLICFEST 2014
Aug. 23 LoganBerry Heritage Farm Cleveland LoganBerry Farm will celebrate its annual garlic harvest with live entertainment, animals, crafts and artisans. Chefs will showcase varieties of garlic from around the world in cooking demos. LoganBerry Farm is located in White County at 2660 Adair Mill Road, Cleveland. Visit http:// www.loganberryheritagefarm.com or call 706-348-6068 for more details.
55th PUTNAM COUNTY DAIRY FESTIVAL
June 7 • Downtown Eatonton This celebration of Putnam County’s dairy industry features road races beginning at 8 a.m., arts and crafts starting at 9 a.m., recognition of the Dairy Family of the Year and Dairy Festival Queen at 11 a.m., barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and entertainment from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. A parade featuring antique tractors begins at 10 a.m. After the parade, the tractors will be displayed at the Farmers & Merchants Bank. For more information visit http:// www.pceatonton.org or call 706-473-0763.
25TH ANNUAL BROOKLET PEANUT FESTIVAL
CHIEF VANN HOUSE DAYS
July 26 Chief Vann House Historic Site Chatsworth From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tour the home of Cherokee Indian plantation owner James Vann and see demonstrations of 1800s skills such as blacksmithing, soap making, weaving and spinning. Admission is $4-6. Call 706-695-2598 or visit http://gastateparks.org/ChiefVannHouse for more information.
INSPIRED GEORGIA
May 31 – July 24 Arts Clayton, Jonesboro a July 26 – Sept. 11 The Carnegie Library, Dublin a Sept. 13- Oct. 27 Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton Exhibit features 28 pieces from Georgia’s state art collection created by Georgia artists. Visit http://www.gaarts.org or call 404-962-4015 for more information. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2014