Don't you just love a mild Georgia winter? Warmer temps mean more fun at these rural shindigs, taking place this month. Check them out!
· Winterfest, Feb. 16 in Clarkesville: The Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center partners with Unicoi State Park and Lodge and Helen Arts & Heritage Center to create WinterFest: Arts & Coach Tour. This festival will include 150 artists located at three locations (Including Hardman Farm State Historic Site) within 10 miles of one another, with optional coach service. The three festivals include: The Sautee Nacoochee Arts Festival, The Fireside Arts & Crafts Show, and The Helen Winter Festival. Selected as one of the top 20 events in 2018 by the Southeast Tourism Society, WinterFest offers easy access to three art festivals. Spend a day at one location or hop on and off a coach to visit multiple locations. Watch live art demonstrations throughout the two-day festival. Drawings to win original art and fine craft prizes will be done through the weekend. More details at www.winterfestartstour.org.
· Festival of Camellias, February in Fort Valley: Massee Lane Gardens offers extended hours in February and is open Mondays (with free tea tastings) in addition to Tuesday through Sunday. Professionally guided tours are available on weekdays for groups of ten or more for $5 each; box lunch tours are $15 per person; and advance reservations required. Call toll free (877) 422-6355. The Festival's finale will be the Middle Georgia Camellia Society's and Flint Energies' camellia show on February 22 and 23, 2019. For more details, visit www.americancamellias.com/news-events/festival-of-camellias.
· In the Wake, through March 12 in Statesboro: Exhibition by self-taught artist and Statesboro resident John Givens explores the South through pastels, watercolors and French crayons. More information at www.averittcenterforthearts.org/exhibitions.
· Thomasville Antiques Show, Feb. 22-24 in Thomasville: The Thomasville Antiques Show Committee is pleased to present some of the country’s most prestigious dealers for the 30th annual Antiques Show & Sale. From February 22-24, 2019, these dealers will showcase antique furniture, paintings, rugs, jewelry, tableware, accessories and collectibles to suit the taste of the casual and the serious collector. More info at www.thomasvilleantiquesshow.com.
· Alliance for African American Music Annual Gospel Concert, Feb. 24 in Cornelia: The 28th Annual Celebration in Gospel Music is organized by the Alliance for African American Music in Northeast Georgia to benefit grants and scholarships that unite our diverse communities. This year's benefit concert theme is "Sing to the Lord a New Song!" Performances by Mass Gospel Choir from Piedmont College, Brenau University and Shady Grove Baptist Church, The Lee Arrendale Voices of Hope, and this year's Lachicotte-Strickland Scholar. No advance tickets. There will be a free-will collection during the event. Donations appreciated. Alliance for African American Music of NE Georgia is a 501(c)3 Non Profit organization. Contact Dr. Ann Nicely at manicely@windstream.net for more information.
Find more rural Georgia events on our event calendar on the homepage. Submit your community's event and let the Rural Center help you drum up a crowd.
Camellia photo by Georgia photographer Brent Betz.
Nice sharing