The days are only getting hotter and hotter as summer draws near. This means schools comes to and, for many families, it’s peak vacation season.
Multiple causes for celebration are coming like Pride Month and the 4th of July, bringing with them festivals and parties all over Georgia. But even when it’s not a holiday, there’s plenty to do. Splash around at the state’s sparkling beaches and fun-filled water parks, take a stroll down one of the winding trails covered in natural beauty, or pick some ripe berries.
Here are more details on how to make the most of a summer in Georgia:
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Memorial Day Weekend happenings
Memorial Day is May 27, a day for honoring and memorializing America's service members. It also serves as a long weekend for many. Here are some of the fun events around Georgia scheduled this weekend:
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- Suwanee's Red, White, Bluegrass and Bach is May 24 at Town Center Park in Suwanee. There will be food trucks and performances by the Main Street Orchestra and Fort Benning's Silver Wings Exhibition Team.
- Stone Mountain Park’s Memorial Day Weekend is May 24-27 in Stone Mountain. The headliners will be the "Music Across America Drone and Light Shows" followed by extended fireworks finales saluting the troops. The 116th Army Band performs May 25-26. Active duty, veterans, and retired military personnel will get one free attractions ticket with valid ID and save up to 35% off per person for immediate family members. More info is at stonemountainpark.com/activity/events/memorial-day-weekend.
- Helen's Bavarian Fest is May 25 at Helen Festhalle. Eat your fill of Bavarian delicacies plus beer and wines. All military (active, retired, veteran) get in free along with one guest.
- Augusta Air Show is May 25-26 at Augusta Regional Airport. There will be an attack helicopter demo, a parachuting team, and more aerial antics. General admission is $27.50. More info is at augustaairshow.com.
- Georgia Apple Blossom Festival is May 25-27 at Panorama Orchards & Farm Market in Ellijay. There will be more than 70 arts and crafts vendors as well as kid-friendly activities like bounce houses and rock climbing. Admission is free and pets are welcome.
- Taps at Twilight is May 27 at Neptune Park on St. Simons Island. There will be a variety of patriotic live music acts, including bagpipes and multiple choirs, and a wreath presentation. Admission is free. More info is at goldenisles.com.
Pride parties
June is LGBTQ Pride Month. It honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement, according to the Library of Congress. Whether you're a member of the LGBTQ community or an ally, here are a few celebrations in Georgia:
- Columbus Georgia LGBTQ+ Pride Festival is June 1 in downtown Columbus. There will be a block party, a "Pride Mega Store," dance contests, a drag show, several vendors, and more. Admission is free. More info is at allevents.in.
- Gwinnett Pride is June 8 at Thrasher Park in Norcross. There will be food and drinks, live music, and multiple vendors. More info is at gwinnettpride.org.
- Augusta Pride's "Beats on Broad" block party is the evening of June 21 at the Augusta Commons. The main Augusta Pride Parade and Festival is June 22 in downtown Augusta. More info is at prideaugusta.org.
- Rome Georgia Pride is June 28-30 at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome. There will be a curated artisan and vendor market, food trucks, and kids zone. More info is at romegapride.com.
Juneteenth celebrations
Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth serves as another independence day for African-Americans and marking the official end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Here are some opportunities to celebrate in Georgia:
- Dublin's "Taste of Juneteenth" is June 15 in downtown Dublin. It will kick off with a parade followed by a day of live music and spoken word performances, dancing, a range of vendors, and plenty of food. More info is at visitdublinga.org/event/taste-of-juneteenth-2.
- A Juneteenth Jubilee is June 15 at Cornelia Jackson Memorial Park in Woodbine. There will be "Juneteenth Jeopardy," free food and books, vendors, raffles, and live entertainment.
- Stonecrest's Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom is June 15 at the Southeast Athletic Complex. There will be an expanded kids zone, live performances, food trucks, vendors and a fireworks show.
- Savannah is having about a week of festivities with a 5K in Daffin Park on June 15, fireworks show on June 19, Miss Savannah Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant on June 20, and a Grand Festival on June 22. More info is at savannahjuneteenthfestival.com.
- Juneteenth Augusta Festival is June 19 in the parking lot of James Brown Arena in downtown Augusta. There will be vendors from across the area, live music and spoken word acts, health and wellness checks, and kid-friendly entertainment. Admission is free. More info is at bandofbrothersaugusta.org/juneteenth-augusta.
- Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival is June 21-23 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. There will be several live music acts (including a battle of the bands), a 5K, various vendors, fly-over jets, and more. More info is at juneteenthatl.com.
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4th of July festivities
America turns 248-years-old this year. While the main holiday is on July 4, there are patriotic parties planned throughout the week. Here are some of Georgia's:
- Wild Adventures' Celebrate America Festival is June 22 through July 7 at the Valdosta theme park. Admission is free to all active, retired, disabled, and honorably discharged veterans and discounted tickets for their families. The Harlem Globetrotters will be there July 5-7 and there will be a fireworks show on July 4. For more info, go to wildadventures.com.
- "Red, White, and Boom!" is July 3 in the commercial district of historic Olde Town Conyers. There will be food trucks, kids activities, multiple stages of live music, a beer garden, and fireworks.
- BOOM! In the Park is July 4 at Evans Towne Center Park in Evans. There will be food trucks, live music, and a big fireworks show. Admission is free.
- Blue Ridge is having a full day of fun on July 4 including a 5K at Blue Ridge Adventure Dog, Old Timers' Parade in downtown Blue Ridge, and fireworks at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds and Lake Blue Ridge. More info is at blueridgemountains.com.
- Brunswick's Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration is July 4. It starts with a parade in the afternoon from Mansfield Parking lot down NewcastleStreet over to Mary Ross Waterfront Park. There will also be a pet parade, a musical theatre production, live music, and fireworks.
- Cumming's Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade is July 4 starting at Forsyth Central High School, moving down Tribble Gap Road, and ending at the Cumming Fairgrounds for the city's July 4th Celebration. There will be food and alcoholic drinks, live music, vendors, a kids zone, and fireworks. Admission and parking are free. For more info, go to cummingfair.squarespace.com/july-4th.
Want to see as many fireworks as possible? Here are more shows that promise big bangs and bright colors:
- Jekyll Island's is 8:45 p.m. July 4.
- Helen's is 9 p.m. July 4 behind the Alpine Village Shoppes and Helen Welcome Center.
- Thomasville's is 9 p.m. July 4 at Remington Park.
- Woodstock's is 9 p.m. July 4 in downtown Woodstock. There's a parade and festival earlier in the day.
- Savannah Waterfront's is 9:30 p.m. July 4.
- Dublin's is 9 p.m. July 6 at Southern Pines Recreational Park.
Produce picking
Multiple delicious farm-fresh foods will be ready for picking this summer. Strawberries and blueberries will be now through July, peaches from early May to August, according to Explore Georgia. Here are some spots where you can pick your own:
- Hemi Blueberry Farm in Greensboro, south of Athens. Blueberry and blackberry picking is available starting in about late May. More info is at hemiblueberryfarm.com.
- Ottawa Farms in Bloomingdale, just outside Savannah. Strawberries are ripe for picking while blackberries and blueberries are being grown. Follow the farm's Facebook page for the latest info on which fields (if any) are open.
- Penelope's Peaches in Newnan, west of Peachtree City. You can schedule a picking session for $50 for a large bucket by calling (404) 520-1420 or emailing Penelopespeaches63@gmail.com.
- Rutland Farms in Tifton, east of Albany. Strawberries are available for picking, weather permitting. More info is at rutlandfarms.com.
- Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, just outside of Atlanta. Strawberry picking is available all week starting at about $7 for a quart. More info is at southernbellefarm.com/spring.
Super shores to see sea shells
Many will want to have a beach day this summer, but you don't have to make the long drive to Myrtle Beach or Florida to get some sand and sunshine. Georgia has multiple fun-filled beaches. Here are some of the best ones, according to U.S. News & World Report:
- Sea Island is home to the only resort in the world to earn four Forbes Five-Star awards for 15 years in a row. Among the more unique experiences are horseback riding on the beach at sunset and searching for nesting sea turtles at dawn from May through August.
- Cumberland Island National Seashore is only accessible by passenger ferry or private boat. Once there, you'll find maritime forests, wetlands, and more than 17 miles of untouched beachfront. It's possible you'll see horses running free, nesting sea turtles, and foraging armadillos.
- Tybee Island is just a brief drive outside Savannah. The North Beach section is home to the island's historic lighthouse, and there are several secluded areas for a less commercial beach day. Boat trips to see dolphins just off shore are also available.
- St. Simons Island is the biggest barrier island of Georgia's Golden Isles. Collect sand dollars at the pet-friendly East Beach, or take a bike ride at the beach during low tide. You can fish off boardwalk at Gould's Inlet. On the southern tip of the island is a lighthouse and museum.
- Jekyll Island is a former private retreat turned state park with 10 miles of coastline. Driftwood Beach has weathered trees and branches all over the sand, providing one-of-a-kind photo ops and backgrounds for shows like "The Walking Dead" and movies like "X-Men: First Class."
Hiking trails to try
Whether you're walking, running, or riding a bike, this is a great time to get outside and get some exercise. Here are some of the state's longest trails, according to Explore Georgia:
- Appalachian Trail stretches across 14 states with the north Georgia portion running more than 70 miles.
- Pinhoti Trail is in Georgia and Alabama, stretching more than 300 with parts in the southern Appalachian area.
- Benton MacKaye Trail runs through three states, including the Appalachian area, with abut 300 miles of footpath.
- Bartram Trail runs more than 110 miles between north Georgia and North Carolina.
- Pine Mountain Trail is 23 miles and can be reached at F.D. Roosevelt State Park.
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Take a splash at a water park
No matter where you live in Georgia, it is sure to be a scorcher throughout the summer. Visiting a water park is a great way to cool off. Here's a look at some of the best in Georgia, according to Tripadvisor:
- Splash Island Waterpark at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta. There are 27 acres of water-filled fun including two slides that drop into a 20,000-square-foot wave pool. There are also private cabanas and loungers in addition to a Surfside Café. General admission starts at about $46. More info is at wildadventures.com.
- Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, outside of Atlanta. There's a 2,000-square-foot water playground, a 38,000-square-foot wave pool, and several slides. The "Tsunami Surge" drops guests five stories and spins them around a 125-foot-long whirlpool bowl. Tickets are about $37. More info is at sixflags.com/overgeorgia.
- Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island. There are water slides for all ages (including one that's five stories tall), a half-mile lazy river, and a splash pad. There is also a selection of private cabanas to rent as well as a snack and surf shop. Tickets are about $28. More info is at jekyllisland.com.
- Six Flags White Water in Marietta. There are more than a dozen slides, including one that's a "racer," one that's 10 stories tall, and multiple that allow you to slide down on a tube or raft. There's also an activity pool where you can cross the water, a wave pool, and a lazy river. Tickets are about $30. More info is at sixflags.com/whitewater.
- Fins Up Water Park at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands in Buford. There's an inflatable on-water obstacle course, a wave pool, and foam parties. A four-slide tower is coming this season, including a 418-foot waterslide coaster. General admission is about $60. More info is at margaritavilleresorts.com.
- Splash in the Boro opens May 18 in Statesboro. There's a large wave pool with a small spray playground, a dual flow rider to slide down or ride up, an 800-foot-long lazy river, and plenty of slides. When it's time to dry off, there are shaded pavilions. Tickets are available in advance for $24. More info is at splashintheboro.com.
