Augusta, GA

A look at fall festivals, holiday markets, ice skating & more fall activities in the Augusta area

Published

6 months ago

November 7, 2023

A look at fall festivals, holiday markets, ice skating & more fall activities in the Augusta area

Halloween has conjured its last scream for the year, but there’s plenty more fall fun to be had. Thanksgiving is the next big holiday, and in addition to football and feasting, it’s a great opportunity for turkey giveaways and food giveaways. It’s also the dawn of the holiday season, and there are already live Nutcracker performances and markets for buying the perfect gift on the community’s calendar.

November is also boasting more fall festivals offering all kinds of games, rides and live music to enjoy. Here are more details on these and some other fun things-to-do in the Augusta area:

Columbia County Fall Fair

Columbia County Fall Fair is one of the area’s last major fall fairs of the season. It returned for its 58th year on Nov. 2 and runs through the 12th at the Grovetown fairgrounds at 5462 Columbia Rd. The live entertainment is fairly diverse including a demolition derby, “Sea Lion Splash,” petting zoos and a master chainsaw carver. These are all in addition to the many rides and fair food vendors. General admission is $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. Fair hours very by day, and the full schedule is available at columbiacountyfair.net.

High school football state playoffs: Augusta-area teams and first-round opponents

Life in prison: Man sentenced to life in prison for ‘graphic’ rape at Columbia County spa

Evans on Ice

One of Columbia County’s most popular holiday attractions, Evans on Ice, returns Nov. 9 through January to Evans Towne Center Park in Evans off Ronald Reagan Drive. Families can ice skate to their hearts’ delight, and when they need a break, they can relax with some roasted marshmallows and take a stroll around the park to check out the various light displays.

Hours of operation for the ice rink vary by day. Tickets start at $13. For more information, go to evansonice.com.

Fall festivals, feasts

Boondocks Farms’ Fall Fest is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Jackson farm at 755 Foreman St. There will be vendors selling crafts and other gifts, food and live music.

A soup potluck dinner is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14 at Savannah River Brewing Co. in Augusta at 813 5th St.

Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s Fall Festival is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Augusta church at 720 Telfair St. There will be craft vendors, a silent auction, live music, games with prizes and food.

Harvest Time Ministries’ 11th annual Chili Cook Off is 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Evans ministry at 4534 Washington Rd. There will be door prizes as well as prizes for the best recipes. General admission (including dinner) is $5 but is free for children 10 and under.

Local development: Augusta sees draft plan for Allen Homes, Harrisburg and Laney-Walker neighborhood

Restaurant inspections: These two Augusta seafood restaurants scored lowest in newest round of health inspections

Live performances

Ukrainian Principal Artists’ “NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet” is 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Miller Theater in Augusta at 708 Broad St. Tickets start at $24 and are available at the box office and at millertheateraugusta.com.

“A Magical Cirque Christmas” is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at Columbia County Performing Arts Center in Evans at 1000 Market St. Tickets start at about $27. The venue is also presenting “A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage” at 7 p.m. Nov. 28. Tickets start at about $26. Tickets for both are available at thecenterofcc.com.

Taconhy Entertainment’s “Circus on Ice” is 4:30 and 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Imperial Theatre in Augusta at 745 Broad St. Tickets are $15 for children and $25 for adults. The Imperial is also hosting Colton Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” on Thanksgiving weekend. Shows are slated for 7 p.m. Nov. 24, and at 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 25 and 26. Tickets start at $17. Tickets for both are available at the box office and at imperialtheatre.com.

Markets, small business events

Lakeside High School’s PTSO Fall Vendor Fair is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11 outside the Evans school at 533 Blue Ridge Dr. There will be a variety of vendors, food trucks, face painting, and a pro photographer providing holiday card pictures.

Sacred Heart’s annual Holiday Market and Guild Bake Sale is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Augusta cultural center at 343 13th St. There will be local and regional vendors as well as homemade baked goods and multiple presentations. For the full schedule, go to sacredheartaugusta.org.

Our Savior Episcopal Church’s 4th annual Holiday Craft Market is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Augusta church at 4227 Columbia Rd. There will be hamburgers and hotdogs available for hungry shoppers.

Leavelle McCampbell Middle’s 5th annual Mistletoe Market is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Graniteville school at 1120 Weldon Way. There will be vendors, concessions and a raffle.

Harlem High’s Holiday Vendor Festival is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Harlem school at 1070 Appling Harlem Rd.

Downtown Augusta’s 3rd annual Small Business Saturday Crawl returns 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25. This marks the “Black Friday” of small business shopping, and Augusta’s will include 14 downtown merchants offering various sales and activities. Limited edition buttons are available at each merchant, and the more participating businesses you visit, the more entries you get in the event’s raffle. For a full list of the participants, go to the event’s Facebook page.

‘A champion for justice’: Eugene Brantley launches campaign for Richmond County Sheriff

Cybersecurity: Augusta University researchers launch study to improve local government cybersecurity

Givebacks and giveaways

Augusta Dream Center’s Thanksgiving Meal and Turkey Giveaway is 5-6 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Augusta organization’s HQ at 3358 Peach Orchard Rd. The giveaway is first-come, first-serve but everyone is welcome to the sit-down meal following the giveaway. Those interested in volunteering or sponsoring a meal should check out the event’s Facebook page.

The James Brown Turkey Giveaway returns 8 a.m. Nov. 20 in the James Brown Arena parking lot in downtown Augusta at 601 7th St. Those interested can register 9-11 a.m. Nov. 11 inside the James Brown Arena. Registrants need a valid state ID, current power bill or lease agreement. Those needing more information can email info@jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org or call (803) 640-2090.

Did we miss a fun event coming soon? Contact Miguel Legoas at mlegoas@augustachronicle.com.

Source link

Click to comment

Augusta, GA

Family pleads for help finding missing 51-year-old in Augusta

Published

55 mins ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Family pleads for help finding missing 51-year-old in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a missing 51-year-old man.

Jean Joseph Plaisir, also known as Jadan Pleakir and “Polo,” was last seen Saturday in the 3500 block of Windermere Drive wearing gray sweatpants, a gray sweatshirt and red sneakers.

Authorities released a photo of him and said he’s 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.

His family also issued an urgent plea, writing on a missing poster, “Please come home, the kids miss you” and “Please don’t hurt him.” They also wrote: “We love you.”

They believe he disappeared after his car broke down.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706- 821-1020 or 706-821-1080

Source link

Augusta, GA

New family-affordable community hosts grand opening in Augusta

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

New family-affordable community hosts grand opening in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new family-affordable community is coming to Augusta and opens on Wednesday.

Organizers say the grand opening of Walton Green community will begin around 11 a.m.

The community is built near the Legacy at Walton Green on 15th Street.

The community features:

Spacious apartments
An Adventure Center – A complimentary after-school enrichment program.
It has tutoring, field trips, and counseling services for the kids.
Learn more here: Adventure Centers — Mission 1:27 (mission127.ngo)
A playground
On-site management & maintenance
A book of the month program and resident services.

They’re looking forward to serving people with excellence.

To learn more, head over to the website.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Bringing awareness to Augusta Richmond county’s number one killer

Published

15 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Bringing awareness to Augusta Richmond county’s number one killer

AUGUSTA, Ga. –
It’s the number one killer of 31 to 51-year old’s in Augusta-Richmond county.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health—fentanyl related deaths are on the rise.

For National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Serenity Behavioral Health Systems took time out to educate the public.

Fox 54 got the chance to hear firsthand just how dangerous and deadly this drug can be.

Timothy Stephens says he used to abuse almost every drug on the market.

“I already had my second failed marriage, I was pretty much homeless. In my head I was like hey you lost everybody, this doctor obviously cares about you so why mess that up, just go ahead and go to a recovery meeting,” said Stephens

Now Stephens, whose been drug free for over a decade, is the founder of the non-profit, Augusta Recovery Alliance.

The goal—to help people facing the challenges he once encountered.

Stephens says, “I had a beer saved for me that evening and I was like its October 18th 2012, I just threw it in the trash and said I’m going to try my very best and I haven’t had a drink or a drug since. The only way I know how to keep it is by pouring into others and showing them the way out.”

Fentanyl use is on the rise, being found in almost all counterfeit drugs.

“Right now, the findings are suggesting it could potentially be in every illegal drug that is found in the county right now. We can only speculate that maybe because it is cheaper to produce and people are mass producing counterfeit pills,” said opioid public health analyst, Beverly Brown.

Chuck Williamson with Serenity Behavioral Health says the most important thing right now is to educate.

“The street drugs the synthetic stuff, its killing people and we just need to make people aware,” said Williamson. “It’s a big-time issue, we’ve got to take it very seriously and address it. Education, education that’s the main thing.”

That’s why serenity hosted a Fentanyl Awareness Day teaching the community about the dangers surrounding this drug and how to help combat this issue.

One of the main things that can help is having Narcan on hand at all times and knowing how to use it.

You can find free Narcan at the Georgia Department of Public Health in Augusta while supplies are available.

Lifesaving information in the fight against an ever-growing problem.

“At Augusta Recovery Alliance our catch phrase is the best is yet to come, and with the buzz going on for recovery, the best is yet to come,” said Stephens.

Source link