There are so many great things about Autumn…like temperatures under 90 degrees…but one of the best things has to be all of the fall festivals! And we might as well start this fall festival season off with a bang because this weekend is the granddaddy of them all—The Cotton Pickin’ Fair in Gay, GA (that's about 50 miles north of Columbus on GA Hwy 85). It’s set in a field with a farmhouse, cotton gin and warehouse and lots of outdoor space to make room for everything. If you’ve been before, chances are it’s already on your calendar because folks go back year after year for all the entertainment, arts, crafts, antiques, entertainment with cloggers, blue grass music, puppets, magicians; and if for no other reason than to sample an incredible array of Southern cooking at its best. Wear some good walking shoes and plan to stay for several hours. How good is this festival? Year after year, it's voted as one of the Top 25 Events in the Southeast…it's that good! Admission is only $5 for adults and ages 4-12 get in for just $3. It's open from 8:00am-5:00pm Saturday and Sunday. 706.538.6814 www.cpfair.org
Here’s something that I don’t ever remember happening in Columbus before and if you love seafood, go ahead and tie a napkin around your neck and make plans to attend the First Ever Seafood Festival in Columbus this Saturday! It’s hosted by The Market and will actually take place in the courtyard just behind the seafood restaurant (1st Ave in Uptown Columbus) and it’s going to be a day of live music with Ed Cox (who plays a MEAN saxophone!), Kevin Vannoy, and Peggy Jenkins, shopping, wine tasting and let’s not forget…seafood galore!! And not to worry if you’re a football fan, they’ll have the game on a big screen TV. Not only will this be a fun day, but it’s also a fundraiser for several event The Market is involved in like the Uptown Market Thanksgiving and Save the Gulf. If you get tickets before Saturday, they're only $5 or you can get them at the event for just $10…children 12 & under get in free. Bring on the shrimp!!! 706.320.9733 thefreshfishmarket.com
Get out your running shoes and head to the Original City Historic District for their 33rd Annual Preservation Run happening this Saturday (Oct. 2) beginning at 7:30am. It’s one of the most scenic runs in the City, winding through the Historic District. (1 mile Fun Run and 5K & 10K Runs) All proceeds will support the preservation of the Historic District. Meet at 685 Front Ave. www.columbusgahdps.org
Anybody in the mood for a little laughter this weekend? I thought so. Well, there’s a guy coming to the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts (Broadway) this Sunday who will definitely make you giggle! It’s comedian Brian Regan and believe it or not, he’s one of the few comedians performing today that you can take the whole family to see and that’s why he sells out shows all over the country. You may have also seen him on “The Tonight Show,” “The Conan O’Brien Show” and just last week, he made his 23rd appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He’s just that good! People love his stuff because we can all relate to what he says and he’s not afraid to pick on himself. Tickets are $35 and the show starts at 7:30pm. 706.256.3612 www.rivercenter.org
Make room for one more Fall festival this weekend and head to Andersonville, GA for their Historic Fair. This one is a little unique in that it even features mock Civil War Battles; old-time craftsmen at work; all sorts of dealers in arts, crafts, antiques & collectibles; tons of stuff for kids to do; parade, classic cars, and live entertainment, even fresh produce from local farmers. And of course, you can’t have a fall festival without more good festival food. Bring on the funnel cakes! Admission to this one is $5 for adults and for kids ages 4-12, it's just $3. 229.924.2558 andersonvillegeorgia.com
Oh and there's been so much buzz about this one and rightfully so. I can't remember when I've heard so much talk about a performance at the Springer Opera House than I have with "The Full Monty." More folks have said this is the best production they have ever seen at the Springer and if you've been thinking about going, you better make the call asap to get tickets because…a) the performances have been selling out consistently…and b) this is the last weekend! Just remember, this show is rated PG-16 so leave the kids at home for this one and make a date night out of it. 706.327.3688 www.springeroperahouse.org
You've got plenty of things to choose from this weekend and this is only a small sampling of all the events taking place, so make sure you check out the Community Calendar to see what else is happening.
Now, go have some fun…
shelby
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