WAYS TO ENJOY SUMTER COUNTY THIS SPRING & SUMMER:
Americus
- Stop by the Visitor Center for a copy of the Historic Homes Driving Tour
- Order take-out from any of our local restaurants and have a picnic at Rees Park
- Explore two historic cemeteries
- Visit the place where Charles Lindbergh took his first solo flight
- Play disc or footgolf at Americus KOA
- Take a self-guided walking tour of the Historic Windsor Hotel or Rylander Theatre
- Shop Saturday morning at Lenny’s Market (Farmers Market)
Plains
- Pick up a homemade Peanut Butter Ice Cream cone from Bobby Salter’s Plain Peanuts
- Shop in the beautiful antique & boutique shops on Main Street
- Pick up take-out and have a picnic at the Plains Visitor Center
- Explore Jimmy Carter National Historical Park grounds
- Walk the streets where a former president lives!
Andersonville
- Explore Pioneer Farm and Drummer Boy Civil War Museum
- Grab take-out and head to Andersonville National Historic Site for a picnic
- Shop the local antique shops and grab some ice cream
- Visit the national cemetery and grounds of the former POW camp
Leslie/DeSoto/Cobb
- Explore the towns and stop by the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum
- Take the boat out to Lake Blackshear and relax on the water
- Take a drive down the winding roads through beautiful pecan orchards
- Head to SAM Shortline at Lake Blackshear and take a ride on the train!
MARCH 2023
3
First Friday Americus – Downtown Goes Disney
5 PM – 8 PM
Come to downtown Americus and the Americus Visitor Center as Americus Main Street brings the Most Magical Place on Earth to Sumter County! As you stroll through our downtown district, enjoy the sounds of iconic Disney classics from the Lion King to The Jungle Book to Frozen and so much more. Character meet and greets will be stationed throughout the various participating businesses and shoppers can enjoy various specials and activities throughout the evening.
For more information, call Jennifer at 229-924-4411, Ext. 235.
4
2nd annual Motor Show – Andersonville
11 AM – 3 PM
Visit the Civil War Village of Andersonville for the second annual Motor Show, one of Sumter County’s favorites. The show is open to all classes. The registration fee is $20. Dash plaques will go to the first 100 registered vehicles. Trophies will be presented in several categories. A 50/50 raffle will be held, and the Saturday event takes place rain or shine. While in town, be sure to stop by the unique shops and grab a bite to eat!
For more information, call 229-924-2068.
4
Community Yard Sale – Plains
President Carter’s hometown of Plains will be having a community yard sale on Main Street on the first Saturday of the month. There is no charge for setup. You can enjoy all the shops downtown as you look around, and don’t forget to purchase the famous Peanut Butter Ice Cream at Plain Peanuts!
To reserve a space or for more information, call 228-824-4517 or 229-942-1711.
4, 11, 18, 25
SAM Shortline train ride – Presidential Flyer
10 AM
Hop aboard the SAM Shortline ride for a fun trip to Plains. Boarding begins at 9:30 a.m. and the train departs at 10 a.m. from Georgia Veterans State Park at Lake Blackshear.
For more information on this and all other SAM Shortline rides, call 229-276-0755 or 1-877-427-2457 or visit www.SamShortline.com.
12
Food Truck Fest – Americus
NOON – 8 PM
Come to downtown Americus to enjoy the best of the best food truck vendors from around the region.
For more information, call Americus Main Street at 229-924-4411, Ext. 235.
13
The Kinnigans – Americus
10 AM, 7:30 PM
Come out and enjoy school and an evening performance of Irish music and dance by The Kinnigans. Performances will be at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the historic Rylander Theatre on Lamar Street in downtown Americus.
For more information, contact the Americus-Sumter County Arts Council or call the theater at 229-931-0001.
17-19
Dogwood Days Antique Show & Sale – Leslie
10 AM-5 PM; Noon-4 PM
Dealers from across the Southeast will be in Leslie again this year for the annual Dogwood Days Antique Show & Sale that takes place at the Leslie Civic Center. Hours for Friday and Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and hours on Sunday are noon to 4 p.m. The famous Tea Room will be open and serving its famous desserts in addition to Miss Kay’s Chicken Salad, barbecue made by the Leslie Men’s Club, and different types of sandwiches. The event is sponsored by the Town and Country Garden Club of Leslie. The club uses all proceeds to enhance the beautification of the town. Admission is $5.00. Tickets are good all weekend.
For more information, go to Visit Americus’ Facebook page or contact Jolie Ledger in Leslie, or Leslie City Hall.
17, 31
SAM Shortline train ride – Plains Express
10 AM
Enjoy a fun Friday trip to Plains aboard the SAM Shortline. Boarding begins at 9:30 a.m. and departs at 10 a.m. from Georgia Veterans State Park at Lake Blackshear. The train will arrive in President Carter’s hometown of Plains at 11:45 a.m.
For more information on this and all other SAM Shortline rides, call 229-276-0755 or 1-877-427-2457 or visit www.SamShortline.com.
29
Wings Over America – Annual Extreme Flight Fly-In – Andersonville
8 AM
Visit Hodges Field, at 428 Neil Hodges Road south of Andersonville, for this spectacular event. Hodges Field is one of the premier RC and general aviation venues in the Southeast. The five-day event runs through 5 p.m. on April 2.
For more information, contact Jeremy Jackson at 470-514-0770 or email jnjacksn@gmail.com, or email machodges36@gmail.com
31
Friday Night Artist Talk With Abe Partridge – Americus
6 PM
Visit Sweet Georgia Bakery in downtown Americus for a Friday night talk with Abe Partridge, a folk artist, and musician. The hour-long event starts at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 229-380-0439.
APRIL 2023
1
SAM Shortline train ride – Wine and Cheese Train
1 PM; 3:30 PM; 6 PM
Enjoy an hour-and-a-half-long round trip ride aboard historic railroad cars for a wine-tasting adventure with Wolf Creek Vineyards in Americus. A wine and cheese tray will be served onboard the train as you relax and enjoy the scenery. The trip includes a souvenir wine glass; four (4) different wine samplings; and a charcuterie board with a variety of cheeses, meats, and crackers. There are three different time excursions, at 1 p.m.; 3:30 p.m.; and 6 p.m. The trip is only for those ages 21 and older. IDs will be checked. Boarding is at the Americus Train Depot at 329 S. Jackson St.
For information on this special ride and all other SAM Shortline rides, call 229-276-0755.
1
Conversation and Dessert – Plains
1 PM – 4 PM
Come and enjoy conversation and dessert with authors Mary Kay Andrews and Johnathan Barrett in Plains. Andrews is an award-winning Savannah writer. Barrett is a seventh-generation Georgian who enjoys culinary arts, fishing, gardening and telling stories. The event takes place at the Plains Community Center. Participants receive a book by both and the opportunity to enter a dish in the Dessert Competition, judged by the guests of honor. Five packages are available that include an afternoon event, dinner with the guests, and an overnight stay at the Plains Historic Inn, a $450 value. Tickets are $75 each.
For more information, call 229-928-4825 or email jimmycarterfriends.org to purchase tickets.
4
Chamber Concert Series: Adam Sadberry – Americus
7:30 PM
Visit Jackson Hall on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus to hear Adam Sadberry, a flutist known for his radiant, lyrical playing. Sadberry joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as an African-American Orchestral Fellow in 2018. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Adult tickets are $12. GSW faculty and staff tickets are $10. The performance is free for GSW students with their GSW ID, and free for children under age 12.
For information, contact Chelsea Collins at Chelsea.Collins@gsw.edu.
7
First Friday Americus – Artsapalooza!
5 PM – 8 PM
Downtown Americus will host the annual First Friday Art Show, celebrating Artist Appreciation Month, by hosting artists throughout downtown on the sidewalk or in businesses. Artists are encouraged to create live demonstrations during the event. Businesses are encouraged to host an artist of any kind and incorporate the Artsapalooza theme into their activities for the night.
For more information, call Jennifer at 229-924-4411, Ext. 235.
7
Friday Night Artist Talk With Rob Barge – Americus
6 PM
Visit Sweet Georgia Bakery in downtown Americus for a Friday night talk with Rob Barge of Hardware Graphic Design + Illustration in Alabama. The hour-long event begins at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 229-380-0439.
8
SAM Shortline train ride – Hot Glass Brewfest Special
12:30 PM
Enjoy the Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival, one of Americus’ most popular events, on this excursion.
For information on this special Saturday train, call 229-276-0755 or 1-877-427-2457.
8
Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival – Americus
2 PM-6 PM
Tapping into Americus’ rich history of artisan glass blowing and combining it with Georgia’s innovative craft brewing culture, this Saturday event fuses the two artisan worlds together for one epic showcase. Festival participants are provided the opportunity to experience regional breweries with a variety of beers from each, along with live mobile glass-glowing by artists from across the country.
For more information, call Jennifer at 229-924-4411, Ext. 235, or Qaijuan at 229-924-4411, Ext. 247.
9
Happy Easter!
14
Miss SAR Pageant – Americus
8 PM
Thirteen girls will participate in the 34th annual Miss SAR Pageant at Southland Academy in Americus. Five seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen will vie for the title at 8 p.m. The Friday event takes place in the Melvin T. Kinslow Gymnasium on campus. Miss Georgia Kelsey Hollis and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen Anna Kate Richardson will emcee the pageant and provide entertainment. The event is held each year as a fundraiser for the school’s scholarship assistance program.
For more information, call 229-924-4406.
14, 28
SAM Shortline train ride – Plains Express
10 AM
Enjoy a Friday spring trip to President Carter’s hometown of Plains aboard the SAM Shortline train. Boarding begins at 9:30 a.m. and the train departs at 10 a.m. from Georgia Veterans State Park at Lake Blackshear.
For more information on this and all other SAM Shortline rides, call 229-276-0755 or 1-877-427-2457.
15
Wolf Creek Plantation Spring Festival – Americus
Visit the site at 207 Wolf Creek Drive in Americus for the seventh annual spring festival which is one of Sumter County’s favorites. The deadline for vendors is March 31 and spots are limited. You can go online to apply or call 229-942-0091.
You also may visit www.wolfcreekplantation.com for more information.
15
GSW Preview Day – Americus
8:30 AM-1:30 PM
Get a snapshot of life at Georgia Southwestern State University inside the Storm Dome! Prospective students and parents will learn about admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. Attendees also will explore academic programs, interact with faculty, and enjoy a student-led campus tour. All students will receive a free GSW shirt and one lucky high school junior or senior will walk away with a $1,000 scholarship.
For more information, contact Chelsea Collins atChelsea.Collins@gsw.edu.
15, 22
SAM Shortline train ride – Sumter Explorer
9:30 AM
Enjoy this SAM Shortline ride that includes a nearly two-hour layover in Americus. Boarding begins at 9 a.m. and the train departs at 9:30 a.m. from Georgia Veterans State Park at Lake Blackshear. The train will arrive in Americus at 10:45 a.m. You can shop, enjoy lunch and take an abbreviated special $1 tour of the historic Windsor Hotel offered to train riders only. The train departs for Plains at 12:30 p.m.
For more information on this and all other SAM Shortline rides, call 229-276-0755 or 1-877-427-2457.
15
Park Day 2023 – Andersonville
10 AM
Are you a volunteer interested in helping clean up Andersonville National Cemetery? Then visit the Andersonville National Historic Site, the area’s leading tourist attraction, and join in helping preserve history. Registration for the Saturday event begins at 10 a.m. Volunteers and park staff will work together to pick up trash and dead flowers in the cemetery. Staff also will be offering a tour of the cemetery starting at 10:30 a.m.
For more information, call 229-924-0343 or follow Andersonville National Historic Site’s Facebook page. You can also visit www.battlefields.org.
15
Big Marsh 5K and Fun Run – Americus
8 AM
The 2nd annual Big Marsh 5K and Fun Run will take place at Southland Academy, 123 Southland Road, in Americus. Runners, joggers, walkers, and individuals of all ages and athletic abilities are welcome to participate. The race is in memory of Marshall Welch, a huge supporter of Southland and Georgia Southwestern State University Nursing School. Race times are 8:30 a.m.; 9 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; and 11:30 a.m. After the race, Southland will host a fun-filled family event. Concessions will be available. Early registration is $25 through April 2, and on April 3 through race day, $31.50. There will be a $200 cash prize for the overall male and overall female winners, plus other prizes. Proceeds will help fund the Southland Academy General Scholarship Fund. Other goals are to promote health (physical and mental), and to grow a sense of community.
For more information, call 229-924-4406.
29
SAM Shortline train ride – Murder Mystery Dinner Train
6 PM
Check-in starts at 4:45 p.m. and boarding starts at 5:30 p.m. with departure at 6 p.m. for a trip to Plains and this Murder Mystery Adventure. The train departs from the Americus Train Depot at 329 S. Jackson St. The train arrives back in Americus at 8:30 p.m.
For more information on this and all other SAM Shortline rides, call 229-276-0755 or 1-877-427-2457.
MAY 2023
6
Community Yard Sale – Andersonville
7:30 AM-3 PM
The Sheppard Pride Community Center invites the public to its first annual Community Yard Sale. The event is open to resellers (flipped items/yard sale items) and all festival vendors (crafts, art, homemade products, baked goods, produce, food, etc.). The event starts at 7:30 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. at 106 N. Oglethorpe St. Anyone who would like to participate must fill out a registration form available at the Andersonville City Office. For more information, call 229-924-2068.
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