Augusta, GA

Augusta businesses share thoughts over new St. Patrick’s Day parade route

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2024

Press Room

Augusta businesses share thoughts over new St. Patrick’s Day parade route

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One of the biggest parades in Augusta will take place on Saturday.

The Irish American Heritage Society will host the St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown.

Friday was an “all over the place” day of preps for organizers, but they started off their day honoring former Augusta Mayor Patrick Walsh at the monument on Telfair Street.

The green fountains, festive paintings, and shiny green decorations can only mean one thing in downtown Augusta — St. Patrick’s Day is near.

“Lot of fun, lot of festivities, lot of comradery, putting on a great parade for the city of Augusta,” said Russell Gambill, 2024 Parade Grand Marshall.

The parade will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, heading west on Telfair Street from 7th Street, then going north for a block on 11th Street and heading east on Greene Street to 6th Street.

Things will be a little different with the new route.

“Shortening the parade route just complicates things a little bit but the parade is gonna go on and we’re still gonna have a good time no matter what,” said Parade Chairman Tyler Snead.

Some businesses are upset the route changed. One says they hope parade-goers don’t forget about the businesses on Broad Street even though the route has changed.

Katlyn Kelly with Groucho’s Deli said: “We’re very disheartened and upset because not only did they move the Christmas Parade already, away from Broad Street, now they’ve moved St. Patrick’s Day. We have to kind of stagger labor a little more to be smarter in case we don’t get a business, like a big pop.”

A new business, Tip Top Taps, says they still anticipate a crowd after the parade.

“People will be back on Broad Street after the parade and we hope they’ll come visit. We’ll have extra people on duty to make sure everything moves quickly,” said owner Marty Koger.

Parade organizers say they don’t plan on being on Telfair Street for long.

“Hopefully next year and if not next year, the year after, we’ll be able to bring it back down Broad Street and help out all those businesses,” said Snead.

Tip Top Taps will have live music after the parade and Groucho’s will have some beer specials all day long.

As the weekend approaches, Pineapple Ink Tavern is ready for the foot traffic.

“It’s fun to watch. It really is. And you find yourself drawn into it, and you want to be a part of it, and it’s got Irish history here. I’m all for it,” said manager Hope Trujillo.

Because whether it’s a holiday or not, they want your support.

“We’re not part of a corporation. We’re not part of a chain. So when guests come in the door, they’re really important to us, we want people to come back. We want to make them regulars. We want to make them family,” she said.

They’re hoping for a little Irish luck with this new parade route.

“I would love for everybody to come give this parade route a chance, you know, enjoy it for what it is. And then just come over a block. See what we got over here on broad we got some great shops. We got some great restaurants. We have so many genres of food. I mean, you just really can’t go wrong with just a stroll,” said Trujillo.

The parade isn’t the only St. Patrick’s Day event downtown.

Bars and pubs downtown are gearing up for one of their biggest days, with the parade bringing an influx of visitors.

Also, there’s a new St. Patrick’s-themed challenge at Broad Axe Throwing.

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Augusta, GA

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Published

6 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – A year ago when Quinasia Abercrombie was a freshman, she let her work on the court do the talking as she became one of the top players in the Peach Belt Conference. Abercrombie didn’t have to be a vocal leader since the Jaguars had several upper classmen that handled that role. This year, her sophomore season, Abercrombie is still one of the best players around, but now has become the vocal leader of the team, something that didn’t come naturally.

“I’m just leading my team by voice now, not just leading by example,” Abercrombie said. “Since I don’t really talk, I think they (my teammates) were really surprised, but they’re listening.”

She leads the Augusta women in several offensive categories and has proven to be a major asset to the program.

From Greenville, S.C., Abercrombie was an all-state high school player. She gives part of that credit to her siblings, one older brother and three younger brothers. She had to scratch and claw on the basketball court with them and she’s the first to give them credit for helping make her the player she is today. Abercrombie went as fas as saying she enjoys playing against guys since they’ll push her hard to become better, and she likes the competition.

Now, she’s also being pushed by coach Celeste Stewart. So much so, it’s taking Abercrombie out of her comfort zone. But it’s all for the betterment of her.

“She’s put me in multiple, uncomfortable situations, like talking, being more verbal, and just putting me in positions I wouldn’t normally put myself in,” added Abercrombie.

With the Peach Belt Conference tournament up next for the Jaguars, Abercrombie thinks this team can find another gear and make a run. While she has elevated her game, she knows her teammates can do the same.

Even going forward as a player, Abercrombie knows there’s plenty of room for improvement. One of the most notable for her, her ball handling skills.

“I know I like to pick up my dribble a lot and give it to my point guards,” said Abercrombie. “But I know I can bring it down the court, I just need to work on my ball handling and just being confident handling the ball.”

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.

Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.

USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.

On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.

This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.

Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.

The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.

Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.

Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.

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