Festivals and Fairs in GEORGIA

Georgians love to celebrate, and residents of The Peach State want you to come on down and join in. From holiday parties and musical events to festivals that feature the state’s most fragrant blossoms and farm-to-table produce, the opening months of 2023 in Georgia offer something for everyone to enjoy.

Coastal Celebrations

Get the Georgia party started with all of the fun minus the French Quarter crowds at lively Mardi Gras celebrations on Tybee Island and in the town of St. Marys on Fat Tuesday, February 21.

Historic Savannah is a great destination in any season and starts the spring with two major events: The St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration (March 17) is the Irish-themed holiday’s biggest event in the South and Savannah rolls out the green carpet for revelers with live music and tasty treats from fine-dining restaurants and street vendors, plus plenty of refreshments.

If you’re looking for a more cross-cultural experience, check out the Savannah Music Festival (March 24-April 9). The concert schedule over those 17 days includes jazz, blues, country, folk, gospel, and classical artists from around the world playing in downtown theaters, churches, gardens, and performing-arts centers.

Flowers and Food

The mild winters in Georgia encourage earlyspring blooms and a long tradition of flowerthemed fairs like Thomasville Rose Show & Festival (April 28-29), first celebrated in 1922. Garden tours, floral displays, classic cars, and live music highlight the weekend events.

The Valdosta Azalea Festival (March 11-12) with its huge arts-and-crafts market kicks off the blooming season, followed by the International Cherry Blossom Festival (March 17-26) in Macon with 10 days of family-fun events. The 87th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival (April 14-16) features a juried fine art market and a kidscraft village.

The state’s diverse agricultural bounty is also celebrated at the Georgia Strawberry Festival (April 1-2) in Reynolds, the Vidalia Onion Festival (April 20-23), the Georgia Peach Festival (June 1-7) in

Peach County, Alma’s Blueberry Festival (June 3-4), and the Watermelon Days Festival (June 2425) in Cordele.

Music and More

The Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival (March 3-4) in Tifton features professional cooking competitions, and Due South (April 15-16) is Thomasville’s annual celebration of the performing arts.

Additional spring traditions range from the 55th Annual Blessing of the Fleet Festival (April 21-23) in the coastal port of Darien to the 47th Annual Spring Arts in the Park (May 27-28) in the highland town of Blue Ridge. Both the Hiawassee Wine Festival (May 6) and the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival (June 24-25) feature tasty regional vintages and smooth Southern music.

These special occasions are just a tantalizing sample of the community celebrations you’ll find in Georgia this spring. For a complete 2023 calendar of events, go to the official visitor website at ExploreGeorgia.org and plan your own journey of discovery to this welcoming state of festive fun.